Hierarchical porous ceramic membrane with energetic ozonation capability for enhancing water treatment

In this work, we proposed a facile method for preparation of hierarchical porous ceramic membrane with energetic catalytic ozonation capability aiming at enhancing the performance of water treatment by using the combined ozone-membrane system. The strategy involved preparation of TiO₂ macroporous membrane as a backbone and subsequently coating it with mesoporous Ti-Mn catalyst layer. Scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and nitrogen sorption isotherms characterization demonstrated that the TiO₂ membrane was composed of TiO₂ nanorods with 200-400nm diameter, 5μm length, and mesoporous Ti-Mn layer was coated on the membrane surface uniformly with the thickness of about 100nm and pore size of 10nm. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-rays photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometer showed that Ti-Mn mixed oxide was spread into the inner voids of the membrane to form a hierarchical porous structure. Treating simulated wastewater (aqueous solution of dye Red-3BS and Aniline) it was found that hierarchical porous catalytic membrane exhibited high catalytic ozonation capability which resulted in an enhancement of membrane antifouling, separation and degradation of organic pollutants when the membrane was used as a key device in the combined membrane and ozone system.