Cobalt single-atom catalyst tailored ceramic membrane for selective removal of emerging organic contaminants

Water reuse is an effective way to solve the issues of current wastewater increments and water resource scarcity. Ultrafiltration, a promising method for water reuse, has the characteristics of low energy consumption, easy operation, and high adaptability to coupling with other water treatment processes. However, emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) in municipal wastewater cannot be effectively intercepted by ultrafiltration, which poses significant challenges to the effluent quality and sustainability of ultrafiltration process. Here, we develop a cobalt single-atom catalyst-tailored ceramic membrane (Co₁-NCNT-CM) in conjunction with an activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system, achieving excellent EOCs degradation and anti-fouling performance. An interfacial reaction mechanism effectively mitigates membrane fouling through a repulsive interaction with natural organic matter. The generation of singlet oxygen at the Co-N₃-C active sites through a catalytic pathway (PMS→PMS∗→OH∗→O∗→OO∗→¹O₂) exhibits selective oxidation of phenols and sulfonamides, achieving >90% removal rates. Our findings elucidate a multi-layered functional architecture within the Co₁-NCNT-CM/PMS system, responsible for its superior performance in organic decontamination and membrane maintenance during secondary effluent treatment. It highlights the power of integrating Co₁-NCNT-CM/PMS systems in advanced wastewater treatment frameworks, specifically for targeted EOCs removal, heralding a new direction for sustainable water management.