Simple and efficient method for functionalizing photocatalytic ceramic membranes and assessment of its applicability for wastewater treatment in up-scalable membrane reactors

A photocatalytically active layer composed of TiO2 (Evonik P25) was successfully deposited on the macroporous (3 µm pore size) permeate side an asymmetric porous alumina membrane with aid a smectite (a synthetic hectorite, Sumecton SWF) by dipping membranes into aqueous suspension containing P25 and smectite. After heat treatment at 400 °C, coated hybrid adhered support enough to be applied for photocatalytic decomposition organics (methylene blue phenol as model molecules) in water. The water permeance after coating P25-smectite reduced only 24% compared that pristine membrane, showing advantages present method preparation photocatalyst surface without significant infiltration pores. amount MB degraded using P25-SWF equal 0.007 0.023 mmol.L−1, respectively, when reaction carried out four single-channel tubular reactor transmembrane pressures 250 mbar. implemented can easily up-scaled increase size module, more tubes longer (lengths up 1 m are commercially available), paving way potential technological applications continuous polluted waters.