Development of a graphene based anodic membrane for efficient electrocatalytic oxidation of typical antibiotics from water.

Abstract

Traditional membrane separation processes were ineffective at degrading pollutant molecules, while catalytic reactors often faced inefficiencies due to their inability to simultaneously retain and concentrate reactant molecules. To address these challenges, we synthesized an anodic electrocatalyst (Ti₄O₇/SnO₂-Sb) and combined it with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets to develop a high-performance anodic electrocatalytic membrane (AOM). The AOM's tailored interlayer spacing facilitated simultaneous concentration and electrooxidation of antibiotic pollutants, enabling efficient degradation. At a permeate flux of 7.4 L m^-2·h^-1, the AOM achieved ∼95 % degradation of chloramphenicol (CAP, 20 mg L^-1). The corresponding degradation rate constant (k) of 199.70 min^-1 was two orders of magnitude higher than that of a conventional reactor without retention capability (1.06 min^-1). Moreover, the AOM exhibited exceptional energy efficiency and long-term stability, highlighting its potential for advanced wastewater treatment. This innovative design, which leveraged pollutant concentration via the size-sieving effects of confined interlayer spaces, marked a significant advancement in high-performance water treatment technologies.