Remediation of groundwater pollution using photocatalytic membrane reactors

Recalcitrant pollutants in groundwater and industrial wastewater streams are very dangerous for the environment and human health. The conventional water treatment processes are not capable to degrade/removing them due to their very high chemical stability. The photocatalytic membrane reactors represent a possible route for overcoming the limits present in the conventional ones. In this study, photocatalyst loaded mixed matrix membranes (PMMM) were prepared using non solvent induced phase inversion process and titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst. SEM and EDX analyses, contact angle, and tensile strength measurements were used for characterizing the membranes. Their catalytic activity was assessed using the methyl orange as a recalcitrant pollutant. The photoactivity of the PMM membranes increased with the TiO2 content. The membrane loaded with the 2.5 wt % of titanium dioxide achieved better degradation and retained high degradation efficiency after 4 cycles, indicating the stability of the membrane.