Emerging contaminants removal through fluorine-doped carbon hollow fiber microfiltration membrane based on metal-free electro-Fenton

The emerging contaminants with high toxicity and bioaccumulation potentially threaten to human health, which was difficult removed by traditional biological treatment or membrane separation. In view of this, a novel type of fluorine (F)-doped carbon hollow fiber microfiltration membrane was prepared for realizing emerging contaminants removal through metal-free electro-Fenton. Herein, polyaniline (PANI) was used as a precursor for preparation of porous carbon membrane. The graphitic N and pyridinic N on porous carbon were used as the active sites for H₂O₂ production and its further activation to ·OH, which realized metal-free electro-Fenton reaction. According to the results, the carbon nanotubes with F-PANI at the ratio of 1:1 and calcination temperature at 300 °C endowed the membrane moderate resistance and pure water permeability of 430 Ω and 48.51 L/(m² h bar), respectively. Importantly, the intensity of ·OH generation was further significant enhanced by introducing C–F bonding into the membrane. Therefore, the bisphenol A (BPA), sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and atrazine (ATZ) removal rates were 92.63 %, 38.47 % and 27.05 %, respectively. For control group without bias, the removal rates of above contaminants were 0 % removal rates. Moreover, the membrane permeate loss by filtrating BPA, SMZ and ATZ were 0.13, 0.15 and 0.05, which were 0.20, 0.24 and 0.21 for control group.