Yolk-shell structured Co3O4 catalyst modified ceramic membrane synergistically improved wastewater purification and membrane fouling mitigation

Wastewater increases and water shortage crises have forced the rapid innovation of water reuse technologies. Ceramic membrane process (CM), as one of the key technologies for wastewater reclamation, can effectively light the current difficulties. However, membrane fouling and low retention rate are critical bottles that hinder its further application. Herein, we proposed yolk-shell Co 3 O 4 spheres modified CM (CoHM-CM) activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to improve membrane filtration performance. The results showed that the synergistic effect of size exclusion of CM and spatial confinement of CoHM enhanced the collision between organic pollutants and active sites. CoHM-CM/PMS (30 mg CoHM loading combined with 0.5 mM PMS dosage) degraded 100 % of 10 mg/L phenol, bisphenol F and sulfamethoxazole, and 91.29 % of 5 mg/L carbamazepine at an instant of membrane filtration. This process efficiently removed secondary effluent organic matter and reduced membrane fouling resistance by more than 70 % in actual wastewater environments. Besides, the yolk-shell catalytic membrane had strong Co 2+ regeneration capacity and chemical stability. It coupled PMS-generated sulfate radicals and singlet oxygen play a core role in increasing the membrane interface energy barrier and releasing the developing tendency of membrane pore blocking to severe cake layer filtration fouling. The results provided a new opportunity for wastewater remediation based on the yolk-shell modified membrane technology.