Tailoring fast mass transfer membrane: Zero discharge of wastewater using visible light

The imperative to combat pollution and recover vital resources in complex industrial environments has sparked a pioneering approach — the integration of separation membranes and advanced photocatalysts. In this study, we unveil a catalyzed mass-transfer membrane to revolutionize the treatment of heavy metal salts and dyes in wastewater. Our research presents a game-changing development — the introduction of aminomalononitrile (AMN) into a polydopamine (pDA)/piperazine (PIP) selective layer, reshaping the layer's structure and significantly enhancing membrane permeance. Notably, the AMN-pDA/PIP selective layer showcases exceptional self-cleaning and anti-biofouling properties, sustaining its effectiveness over extended real-world applications. The Cu–TiO₂/CuO heterojunction photocatalyst introduced a concurrent membrane modification, concomitantly diminishing Cr⁶⁺ levels during the oxidative degradation of dye species, thereby yielding impressive removal rates of Cr⁶⁺ and dye (in the context of authentic textile wastewater) approximating 70 % and 100 %, respectively. The mechanism underlying the exceptional photocatalytic performance was probed through comprehensive simulations and pollutant filtration tests.