Effective Integration of Peroxymonosulfate Activation and Photocatalysis by Mno2@Ceo2 Catalyst for Enhanced Membrane Antifouling Performance

Abstract

Membrane fouling remains a major challenge in water treatment processes, limiting membrane performance and operational efficiency. This study synthesized a novel MnO2/CeO2 composite and incorporated it into a PVDF membrane to enhance antifouling properties and improve permeability. The modified membrane, containing 15%Mn/Ce catalyst, exhibited superior performance, achieving up to 98.5% degradation of Acid Blue 260 dye through the effective synergy of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and UV activation. Characterization results revealed a high concentration of oxygen vacancies, accounting for 55.6% of the O 1s spectra, which facilitated PMS activation and promoted foulant degradation. As a result, the modified membrane demonstrated an improved flux recovery rate of 87.2%, significantly outperforming the pristine PVDF membrane (62%). Additionally, the incorporation of the composite significantly improved membrane hydrophilicity by lowering the water contact angle and enhancing permeability. Surface roughness analysis using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) revealed a relatively high average roughness (Ra) of 199 nm, which is attributed to the effectiveness of the electrospinning technique in distributing the catalyst particles across the membrane surface. Moreover, reactive oxygen species, including superoxide anion (O2·⁻) and singlet oxygen (1O2), played a key role in PMS activation and the breakdown of organic foulants. This study highlights the potential of non-noble metal oxides for membrane modification, offering a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to extend membrane lifespan and improve water treatment efficiency.

Keywords: Membrane modification, membrane antifouling, persulfate activation, advanced oxidation, photocatalysis, redox reaction.