| Summary: | The in-situ phase transformation of Ag2CO3/Ag2O heterojunction over ZnO was synthesized via a facile
two-step synthesis method and immobilized in poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane via a phase
inversion process to obtain a novel photocatalytic membrane (PM) for ibuprofen (IBU) removal. The
visible-light-driven PVDF ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O membrane possessed a great extent altering its morpholog�ical and wettability properties. The structural characteristics and antifouling property of PMs with the
presence of ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O were systematically investigated. The performance analysis indicated that
PVDF–ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O showed a higher IBU percentage removal of 27.37% in dark condition. However,
as the PVDF–ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O membrane irradiated with visible light, the synergistic effects accom�plished by both, membrane filtration and photocatalysis have significantly enhanced the IBU removal
efficacy compared with that via filtration alone, exhibited 35.27% of IBU removal. The photocatalytic
activity has remarkably reduced the fouling susceptibility of PVDF–ZnO/Ag2CO3/Ag2O membranes, where
the relative flux had reached a relative stable plateau under visible light irradiation after the collection of
150 mL of permeate with 46.85% of flux loss. With its promising performance in terms of IBU removal,
flux and low membrane fouling susceptibility, this PM holds great potential for its application in pharma�ceutical wastewater treatment.
|
|---|