g-C3N4/BaTiO3/PVDF membrane photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline

Abstract

Environmental pollution poses a major hurdle to sustainable development, and harnessing solar energy for water treatment has emerged as a promising solution. In this study, flexible, macroporous photocatalytic membranes were developed by combining photocatalysis with membrane separation technology and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), aiming to improve the degradation efficiency of tetracycline (TC). The g-C₃N₄/BaTiO₃/PVDF photocatalytic membranes were fabricated using a phase inversion method, which successfully addressed challenges such as catalyst agglomeration and recovery difficulties, surpassing traditional membrane separation methods. Additionally, the g-C₃N₄/BaTiO₃ photocatalyst exhibited excellent compatibility with PVDF. Under 120 min of xenon lamp irradiation, the membranes achieved a TC degradation efficiency of 90.63 %. These membranes also demonstrated remarkable permeability, and they maintained high stability and reusability after five degradation cycles, showcasing their promising potential for photocatalytic water treatment applications.