Molecular levels unveil the membrane fouling mitigation mechanism of a superpotent N-rGO catalytic ozonation membrane: Interfacial catalytic reaction pathway and induced EfOM transformation reactions

Zilong Song, Zhenbei Wang, Jun Ma, Jingyi Sun, Chen Li, Xiaotong Xu, Chao Chen, Zhonglin Chen, Bingbing Xu, Yi Jiang, Jolanta Kumirska, Ewa Maria Siedlecka, Amir Ikhlaq, Fei Qi, Oksana Ismailova

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study investigated the membrane fouling self-cleaning of N-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO)-tailored ceramic membrane with ozone (N-rGO-CM-O/F) at the molecular level. Density functional theoretical (DFT) revealed the principle of interfacial catalytic reaction, and the transformation of foulants was probed using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and various spectroscopic techniques. Results showed that ozone could be aggregated on the N-rGO-CM surface and formed abundant OH. This made humic acid-like substances blocking membrane pores to be sufficiently and preferentially removed in N-rGO-CM-O/F by 18-types reactions of catalytic ozonation. Conversely, CM-O/F preferentially removed protein-like substances that formed the cake layer. Due to the stronger catalytic ozonation ability and efficient fouling mitigation behavior, N-rGO-CM-O/F showed higher water flux as 1.96 times than that of CM-O/F. Overall, this study provided molecular insight into the mechanism of membrane fouling mitigation, which will facilitate the design and application of advanced catalytic membranes.

Original languageEnglish
Article number121943
JournalApplied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume319
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Dec 2022

Keywords

  • Catalytic ozonation membrane
  • Density functional theory
  • FT-ICR-MS
  • Membrane fouling
  • N-doped grapheme

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Environmental Science
  • Process Chemistry and Technology

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