Degradation Of Organic Pollutants Research Articles

Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants and Microplastics Using Ag/TiO2: Recent Advances in Mechanism, Synthesis and Properties

Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants and Microplastics Using Ag/TiO2: Recent Advances in Mechanism, Synthesis and Properties

Harnessing the Power of Plants: Innovative Approaches to Pollution Prevention and Mitigation

Innovative and sustainable environmental management strategies are urgently required to address the escalating global pollution crisis. Phytoremediation, which involves using plants to mitigate, remediate, or contain environmental contaminants, is a promising, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional remediation methods. This review summarizes current research to elucidate the multifaceted roles of plants in pollution mitigation, detailing mechanisms such as phytoextraction, phytostabilization, phytodegradation, and rhizofiltration; we highlight successful case studies that demonstrate practical applications across diverse environments, such as the use of hyperaccumulator plants for heavy metal removal and genetically engineered species for organic pollutant degradation. Furthermore, this review explores recent technological advancements that have enhanced the effectiveness of phytoremediation, such as the integration of nanotechnology and genetic engineering. It also analyzes the economic and social implications of adopting plant-based pollution control strategies, emphasizing their potential for community involvement and socioeconomic benefits. Despite the promising outlook, we acknowledge the inherent challenges and limitations of phytoremediation, including public acceptance and scalability issues. Finally, we identify key opportunities for future research and innovative approaches that could expand the scope and impact of phytotechnologies in pollution mitigation. This comprehensive review underscores the potential of plants as both agents of environmental restoration and essential components of sustainable pollution management systems.

Feasibilty of UVC-LED/H2O2 Advanced Oxidation Processes as a Hybrid Water Treatment System Uniting Secondary Battery and Microbial Fuel Cell

An innovative hybrid water treatment system consisting of an ultraviolet C light-emitting diode sequentially connected to a secondary battery and microbial fuel cells was developed and systematically optimized via an electrochemical performance test. According to standardized bio-dosimetry, the generated ultraviolet intensity powered by a pre-charged battery was determined to be 2.3×10-1 μW cm-2. The quantified UV intensity was used in calculating the fundamental kinetic parameters for the inactivation of microbial entities and the degradation of organic pollutants during UVC-LED and UVC-LED/H2O2 treatment processes. The fluence-based first-order rate constants were 1.07 and 2.43 cm2/mJ for Escherichia coli and 0.10 and 0.18 cm2/mJ for MS-2 bacteriophage, respectively. The study detected 2.76–8.00×10−16 M hydroxyl radicals at steady-state during UVC-LED/H2O2 treatment with 0.3–1mM H2O2. The second-order rate constant for atrazine during UVC-LED/H2O2 treatment was 1.90×109M−1 s−1 according to linear regression analysis of atrazine elimination over •OH exposure. This comprehensive investigation expands the application of microbial electrochemical systems in water treatment, providing a fundamental kinetic dataset for quantifying and predicting the microbial and (persistent) organic pollutants abatement.

Efficient, electrochemical degradation of organic pollutants via nanofibrous Pt/Ir–RuO2 electrode with enhanced stability

A diverse range of surfactants and chelating agents are frequently used in industrial processes, especially in the decontamination of nuclear facilities for decommissioning. To treat and degrade these organic pollutants, electrooxidation (EO) has emerged as a cost-effective method. Along these lines, in this work, a nanofibrous electrode was constructed to facilitate efficient EO. Among various metal oxide for EO, RuO2 is known for its excellent electrochemical activity, which was fabricated into a nanofiber structure with a large specific surface area and doped with IrO2 to increase its stability. In addition to the use of nanofibrous Ir–RuO2, a Pt intermediate layer was incorporated to increase both structural stability and electrical conductivity. The nanofibrous electrode with a Ru:Ir composition of 9:1 showed an electrochemical activation area 1.7 times larger and a charge transfer resistance 4.7 times smaller than a flat-type electrode with the same composition. Efficient degradation (99%) of organic pollutants (sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, Triton X-100, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)) was successfully performed using the nanofibrous electrode. Effective decomposition of radioactive waste (NTA combined with Co ions) with 99% degradation within 4 h was achieved.

Insights into novel phosphorus-doped biochar for tetracycline removal: non-radical oxidation and adsorption

Heteroatom doping has been widely recognized as an emerging and promising strategy for material enhancement and the degradation of organic pollutants. However, most heteroatom doping biochars are used to activate, for example, PMS to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to degrade organic pollutants instead of investigating their own ability to produce ROS. Herein, phosphorus-doping biochars (PBC) were synthesized at various temperatures for adsorption and degradation of tetracycline (TC). Compared to the pristine biochar (BC-800), PBC-800 exhibited significant enhancements in the specific surface areas (1307.30 m2·g-1), porosity (0.94 cm3·g-1) and higher removal efficiency (1.25 times higher than BC-800). The abundance of functional groups in the PBC-800 such as electron-rich ketone functional groups (C=O), phosphorus-oxygen moieties (P-O), and defective sites within the carbon matrix, have been identified to play crucial roles in TC degradation. The free radical quenching and analysis of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) indicated that the presence of persistent free radicals (PFRs) on PBC also influenced the TC removal, and the possible non-radical pathways were proposed. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations proved that PBC-800 exhibited the highest adsorption energy as well as the lowest energy gap between triplet O2 and 1O2, suggesting that the existence of P was conducive to the production of 1O2. This study laid the groundwork for the development of biochars and provided a novel insight into the design of green biomass for effective removal of antibiotics in the future.

Zn-MIL53(Fe) as an electro-Fenton catalyst: Application in organic pollutant degradation and pathogen inactivation

In this study, the potential of a bimetallic Metal-Organic Framework Zn-MIL53(Fe) for electro-Fenton catalysis was evaluated. After the material characterisation, its catalytic activity was validated in Fenton reaction to degrade a model organic pollutant: Rhodamine B. After that, the evaluation of Zn-MIL53(Fe) as electro-Fenton catalyst was performed and improved outcomes were reached by electro-Fenton regarding anodic oxidation. Then, electro-Fenton treatment optimisation was carried out using response surface methodology assays considering different catalyst dosages (7.2–43.2 mg), current intensities (5–45 mA) and treatment time (30–90 min) in a volume of 0.1 L. Under optimal conditions, a degradation rate over 90 % for Fluoxetine and Sulfamethoxazole in synthetic wastewater was achieved within 90 min, using graphite sheet as anode and nickel foam as cathode (25 mA), with a catalyst dosage of 43.2 mg in a volume of 0.1 L. Additionally, its application in the pathogen inactivation was evaluated using different gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Complete eliminations of both types of bacteria were reached in 5 min using the optimal conditions. In the end, Zn-MIL53(Fe) was proven as a reusable material, capable of performing 3 complete cycles of electro-Fenton treatment for both types of pollutants bacteria and pharmaceuticals, which makes it a promising candidate for more efficient wastewater treatment applications which involve the Fenton reaction.

Surface- and substrate-coated catalytic membrane for mitigating interference of water matrix species in intensified micropollutant confinement oxidation

The integration of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) with membrane technology offers benefits for catalyst recovery and reducing membrane fouling. However, the application of the hybrid process could be hampered by the background species in water matrix. This study addresses this challenge by developing catalytic ceramic membranes (CCMs) with dual mechanisms to intensify acetaminophen (ACT) removal in water. The CCMs effectively activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS), achieving ACT degradation of 85% and 93% in real water matrices (reverse osmosis retentate and settled water, respectively) and 99% in MQ water. The CCMs demonstrated consistent performance across multiple operational cycles, even in the presence of humic acid (HA) (96% ACT reduction). The CCM design features Co3O4 catalytic layer on CCM surface, facilitating surface oxidation, reducing fouling, and TiO2 intermediate rejection layers serving as barrier for bulk organic pollutants, achieving 50% HA removal through rejection and 70% with 1.5mM PMS. This design facilitates catalytic degradation at the membrane surface, allowing retention and degradation of bulk organic pollutants and intermediates, while ACT permeates into CCM substrate. The surface oxidation and rejection enhanced confinement oxidation within the Co3O4-coated macropores, minimizing interference from background species. LC-QTOF analysis identified multiple degradation pathways, including hydroxylation, acetyl-amino group cleavage, side chain oxidation and benzene ring cleavage, with intermediates showing reduced toxicity. Reactive oxygen species involved in the system were identified and PMS activation mechanism was proposed. This research highlights the potential of the hybrid process, enhancing micropollutant removal by mitigating interference from background species, providing practical implications in water treatment applications.

Alginate/MIL-88B(Fe) derived magnetic biochar bead for non-radical degradation of organic pollutant with low peroxymonosulfate consumption

Alginate/MIL-88B(Fe) derived magnetic biochar bead for non-radical degradation of organic pollutant with low peroxymonosulfate consumption

Mo-doping and CoOx loading over BiVO4 photoanode for enhancing performance of H2O2 synthesis and in-situ organic pollutant degradation

The combination of photoelectrochemical water oxidation hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the anode and hydrogen evolution on the cathode increase the value of the water splitting process. However, the sluggish water oxidation kinetics and slow carrier transport limit the generation of H2O2. In this study, to promote H2O2 production, the surface of a Mo doped BiVO4 photoanode was modified with CoOx co-catalyst. The resulting CoOx/Mo-BiVO4 photoanode generates H2O2 at a rate of 0.39 μmol min−1 cm−2 with a selectivity of 76.9% at 1.7 VRHE. The experimental results indicate that CoOx decorated on Mo-BiVO4 kinetically favors the H2O2 production via reduced band bending, while inhibiting H2O2 decomposition. According to density functional theory calculations, the loading of CoOx enhances the efficiency of the Mo-BiVO4 photoanode in generating H2O2. Moreover, the in-situ generated H2O2 through CoOx/Mo-BiVO4 was applied to the degradation of tetracycline in aqueous solution, finding that CoOx/Mo-BiVO4 exhibits the best performance among the catalysts evaluated. This work demonstrates that the CoOx co-catalyst can effectively facilitate the water oxidation to H2O2, opening a way for its application in situ water remediation.

Unlocking the potential of metal Molybdates: A simple chemical method for synthesis and their photocatalytic properties under visible light irradiation

This study presents a comprehensive characterization of metal molybdate compounds (ZnMoO4, NiMoO4, and CuMoO4) synthesized via a hydrothermal method followed by a conventional solid-state reaction. Detailed structural and morphological analyses were conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm phase purity and crystal structures, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FE-TEM for morphological characterization, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for surface chemical composition. Raman spectroscopy provided insights into band mode vibrations in MoO3 and its metal molybdates, while UV–Vis spectroscopy was employed to estimate the band gaps. The photocatalytic performance of these compounds was assessed through the degradation of methylene blue dye under visible light irradiation, with CuMoO4 (CM) demonstrating superior activity, followed by NiMoO4 (NM) and ZnMoO4 (ZM). Remarkably, CM achieved over 99.5% degradation of RhB dye within 180 min, outperforming the other molybdates. Stability tests over three cycles revealed negligible catalyst loss after 630 min, affirming the exceptional stability of CM compared to ZM and NM. Furthermore, the efficacy of MO and ZM as heterogeneous catalysts for the degradation of mixed organic dye pollutants from textile industry effluents was evaluated, underscoring the significant potential of these metal molybdates, particularly CM, for environmental remediation applications.

Synthesis and visible-light photocatalytic performance of Ce-BiVO4/SrTiO3Z-scheme heterojunction for H2 production and organic pollutant degradation

Ce-BiVO4/SrTiO3 (Ce-BVO/STO) Z-scheme heterojunction composites were synthesized through a hydrothermal method to address the dual challenges of the energy crisis and water pollution. The influences of Ce3+ doping in Ce-BVO and the composition ratio of Ce-BVO/STO on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and water splitting for H2 production were systematically investigated. Notably, the Ce-BVO/STO-1/1 composite exhibited an H2 production capacity as high as 771.3 μmol/g under visible light irradiation for 5 h. Additionally, 96.65 % of MB (10 mg/L) was photodegraded under visible light within 150 min. Furthermore, after three cycles, the Ce-BVO/STO-1/1 composite maintained a stable H2 production yield and MB removal rate, demonstrating its high recyclability for practical application. The Z-scheme heterojunction structure effectively promoted the separation and redox reactions of photogenerated electrons (e-) and holes (h+), and the photoelectrochemical reaction mechanism responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic performance was verified. These findings indicate that the as-prepared Ce-BVO/STO-1/1 composite has significant potential for application in H2 production and pollutant degradation through visible-light-driven photocatalysis.

Reassessing the Role of Thermal Convection in Simultaneous Water Production and Pollutant Degradation in Interfacial Photothermal-Photocatalytic Systems.

The interfacial photothermal-photocatalyticsystemscan generate clean water while purifying wastewater containing organic pollutants, but the impact of thermal convection on synergistic effects remains unexplored. This paper aims to regulate the thermal convection at the interface to significantly enhance the synergistic effect of interfacial photothermal-photocatalytic systems. A novel heterogeneous structure comprising iron-based metal-organic frameworks and multi-walled carbon nanotubes with a gelatin-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) double network hydrogel (MWCNTs@NM88B/PVA/gelatin hydrogel, denoted as MMH) is developed and employed in the construction of the solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) system. The system shows high activity for solar water evaporation and simultaneous photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. MMH demonstrates an evaporation rate of 2.84kg m-2h-1, achieving an efficiency of 95.3% under 1 sun. COMSOL simulations reveal that the implementation of a three-phase interface configuration with SIE technology significantly boosts thermal convection, effectively diminishing the barrier to gas release from the reaction system and consequently enhancing the efficiency of the interfacial photothermal-photocatalytic process. Furthermore, the potential mechanism of photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants in MMH/H2O2/visible light reaction system is proposed by combining the experiments of KPFM, in situ XPS, and ESR spectra. Therefore, this work offers a fresh perspective on evaluating the impact of thermal convection on water evaporation and pollutant degradation in interface photothermal-photocatalytic systems.

Synthesis and characterization of Z-scheme based MoS2/ GQD/Ag nanocomposite for degradation of organic pollution

The constituent composition of heterojunction composite materials can be changed to effectively segregate photogenerated charge carriers and to significantly advance the process of photocatalytic destruction of resistant pollutants under visible light irradiation. This work presents the hydrothermal synthesis of a novel ternary heterojunction composite, MoS2/GQD/Ag NPs (MS/GQD/Ag) and its photocatalytic performance in the degradation of organic dyes. In the synthesized material, the Z-scheme heterojunction demonstrated enhanced visible light-driven catalytic activity by effectively separating electrons from holes (e−/h+) and producing reactive oxygen species. In addition to producing reactive radicals, a variety of surface-bound redox cycles are important in the transmission of photogenerated charge carriers. Rhodamin B (RhB) photocatalytic degradation by MS/GQD/Ag under visible light irradiation was investigated, and results demonstrated 99 % RhB was decomposed using 0.1 g/L of ternary composite during 75 min. Experiments using scavenging techniques verified the concurrent activity of hydroxyl and superoxide radical species in the direction of degradation. The structural stability, recyclability for four cycles, and the pH effect in degradation efficiency of the synthesized photocatalyst illuminate its potential application for the degradation of organic pollutants for water treatment.

Progress in the Synthesis and Applications of C3N5-Based Catalysts in the Piezoelectric Catalytic Degradation of Organics

Piezoelectric catalysis has shown great potential for application in green chemistry due to its “clean” properties. By applying external mechanical force, this method can induce rapid charge transfer, providing an important reaction pathway for carbon neutrality and carbon peaking. Carbon nitride (C3N5)-based catalysts, as a novel material, have received widespread attention for their synthesis and application in the piezoelectric catalytic degradation of organic compounds. This review summarizes the latest research progress of C3N5-based catalysts, covering their applications in environmental governance and resource utilization, including the removal of organic pollutants in water. We focused on the synthesis strategy, characterization methods, and application progress of C3N5-based catalysts in the degradation of organic pollutants. The quantitative results show that some C3N5-based catalysts had removal efficiencies of over 85% in the treatment of specific pollutants. In addition, this article also discusses the piezoelectric effect and its degradation mechanism, providing direction for future research. Finally, the application prospects and potential development directions of C3N5-based catalysts in environmental governance are discussed.

A Chlorine-Resistant Self-Doped Nanocarbon Catalyst for Boosting Hydrogen Peroxide Synthesis in Seawater.

Developing seawater-compatible hydrogen peroxide electroproduction technologies is crucial for advancing marine resource utilization in coastal regions. However, designing efficient and highly stable non-noble metal catalysts for two-electron oxygen reduction reaction in seawater environment remains a challenging task due to the corrosive and toxic nature of chloride ions (Cl-). Herein, we present, for the first time, a novel nitrogen and oxygen self-doped defect-rich nanocarbon (NO-DC700) catalyst, derived from silk fiber, which addresses these challenges with low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and high adaptability. The obtained NO-DC700 catalyst demonstrates an impressive H2O2 production rate of up to 4997 mg L-1 h-1, a high Faradaic efficiency of 96.5%, and produces 4.3 wt.% H2O2 after 20 hours of stable operation, placing it among the highest-performing catalysts reported in neutral electrolytes. Theoretical calculations reveal that NO-DC700's superior 2e- ORR performance is due to the synergistic effect of graphitic nitrogen and C-OH, which inhibits Cl- adsorption and promotes *OOH adsorption. Additionally, integrating 2e- ORR with Fenton-like technology enables rapid degradation of organic pollutants and effective inactivation of seawater algae, offering significant potential for mitigating coastal eutrophication and red tide pollution. This work provides valuable insights into H2O2 electrosynthesis in seawater solution and promises advancements in ocean-energy applications.

A Chlorine‐Resistant Self‐Doped Nanocarbon Catalyst for Boosting Hydrogen Peroxide Synthesis in Seawater

Developing seawater‐compatible hydrogen peroxide electroproduction technologies is crucial for advancing marine resource utilization in coastal regions. However, designing efficient and highly stable non‐noble metal catalysts for two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction in seawater environment remains a challenging task due to the corrosive and toxic nature of chloride ions (Cl‐). Herein, we present, for the first time, a novel nitrogen and oxygen self‐doped defect‐rich nanocarbon (NO‐DC700) catalyst, derived from silk fiber, which addresses these challenges with low toxicity, cost‐effectiveness, and high adaptability. The obtained NO‐DC700 catalyst demonstrates an impressive H2O2 production rate of up to 4997 mg L‐1 h‐1, a high Faradaic efficiency of 96.5%, and produces 4.3 wt.% H2O2 after 20 hours of stable operation, placing it among the highest‐performing catalysts reported in neutral electrolytes. Theoretical calculations reveal that NO‐DC700's superior 2e‐ ORR performance is due to the synergistic effect of graphitic nitrogen and C‐OH, which inhibits Cl‐ adsorption and promotes *OOH adsorption. Additionally, integrating 2e‐ ORR with Fenton‐like technology enables rapid degradation of organic pollutants and effective inactivation of seawater algae, offering significant potential for mitigating coastal eutrophication and red tide pollution. This work provides valuable insights into H2O2 electrosynthesis in seawater solution and promises advancements in ocean‐energy applications.

Cellulose-assisted one-step liquid-phase synthesis of cuprous oxide nanoframes for efficient degradation of 4-nitrophenol: Oxygen vacancy engineering and crystal plane effect

In this study, we report a cuprous oxide nano-framework catalyst with abundant oxygen vacancies and multiple exposed crystalline surfaces. The catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic performance in the hydro-reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) with good reusability. Experimental and theoretical simulations showed that the construction of oxygen vacancies induced a change in the corresponding atomic configuration and electronic properties of the catalyst, which contributed to the improvement of the adsorption of 4-NP and the capture and activation of H atoms, thus accelerating the transfer process of reactive hydrogen and electrons to 4-NP using the catalyst as a mediator. In addition, the rough surface of the nano-framework exposed a variety of crystalline facets, among which the (210) facets possessed more suitable H atom adsorption energy and more electron transfer compared to the (100) facet, which further improved the hydrogenation performance of the catalyst. This study provides a catalyst design strategy based on the synergy of oxygen vacancies and crystalline surfaces for the efficient degradation of organic pollutants.

Advanced BiVO4-deoxygenated lignocellulosic photocatalyst for effective degradation of organic and heavy metal pollutants in aqueous system

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is a common photocatalyst for water remediation, yet its powder form renders difficult to disperse, recycle, and regenerate, limiting photodegradation efficiency. In this study, a lignocellulosic-templated BiVO4 photocatalyst was fabricated from BiVO4 precursor and lignocellulose using a simple vacuum impregnation (w/o heat treatment on wood template). Results showed that the modified template retained original hierarchical structure with an increased specific surface area and reduced hemicellulose content, leading to a promising template for uniform distribution of BiVO4. Moreover, compared to untreated, heat treatment cleaved acetyl groups in the hemicellulose chain, broke down fatty ether bonds, and oxidized lignin side chains, resulting in no disruption to the catalysis of BiVO4. The BiVO4-pyrolyzed lignocellulosic photocatalyst achieved remarkable degradation efficiencies of 90.03 % (approximately 7-fold increase compared to untreated) for RhB and complete degradation of Cr (VI) within 60 min. Furthermore, the efficiency remained >80 % after seven cycles. The mechanism was hypothesized that BiVO4 and template play distinct roles, as deoxygenated lignocellulosic template only acts as a carrier for BiVO4 growth, and BiVO4 serves as the photocatalyst. However, untreated template can react with BiVO4 and impair photocatalytic efficiency. The BiVO4-pyrolyzed lignocellulosic photocatalyst holds great promise for the remediation of aqueous contaminants.

Modulating the electronic structure of Mn promotes singlet oxygen generation from electrochemical oxidation of H2O via O-O coupling

Selectively catalytic conversion H2O into singlet oxygen (1O2) without additional oxidants is considered as an economic-efficient method for organic pollutants degradation. However, H2O are more consistent with the spin state of 1O2 than common oxygen (O2), retarding the kinetics of spin transition-induced reaction between O2 and 1O2. Herein, we report an unprecedented 1O2 mediated electrocatalytic oxidation process, which allows O–O coupling for 1O2 evolution from H2O over CrMn@C anode. The electron occupancy (eg) of CrMn@C (0.89) is very close to the optimal eg (0.95) of manganese-based materials reported in the literature, which facilitates the activation of H2O on surface. Mn(Mn0.193Cr1.808)O4-Mn in CrMn@C electrode significantly promotes the activation of H2O to produce *O, followed by coupling of *O at adjacent sites to produce *OO, which further spontaneously forms 1O2. And H218O isotope experiments provide direct evidence for the production of 1O2 directly from H2O. Consequently, the production of 1O2 is enhanced with the yield of 785.6 μmol·L−1. Such 1O2-dominated electrocatalytic oxidation system can achieve efficient removal of electron-rich pollutant (bisphenol A) and improve the biodegradability of pharmaceutical wastewater (from 0.17 to 0.39).

Remediation of crude oil contaminated oily wastewater using nanostructured ZnO-decorated ceramic membrane: Membrane fouling and their mitigation using photo-catalytic self-cleaning process

In membrane-based oil water separation, the fouling of oil on the membrane pores due to the adsorption of oily feed components (crude oil) is a major disadvantage. In order to address the problem of membrane fouling, in this work, the filtration membrane itself was coated with a photoactive semiconducting material to self-clean the fouled membrane by photo-catalytic degradation. In addition to the self-cleaning, the other major functionality of the coating is to render a favorable surface wettability, conducive for water passing oil water separation. The basic membrane is porous alumina (Al2O3) substrate, on which a layer of crystalline Zinc Oxide (ZnO) thin film was coated by single step RF magnetron sputtering. The fabricated membrane is super-hydrophilic in the air and super-oleophobic underwater, and this contrasting wettability is crucial for the water passing oil water separation. The advantage of preferentially water passing membrane is that the oil clogging on the membrane surface is less than that of the oil passing membrane. However, after prolonged use with crude oil-contaminated feed, the accumulation of organic pollutants on the membrane surface hinders the smooth permeation of water through the membrane. The oil water filtration system involves cross flow through the ZnO-deposited Al2O3 membrane with the application of trans-membrane pressure. The membrane achieved an excellent separation efficiency (99.66 %) of oil and water from the oil emulsified water, and high permeates flux (908.4 L/m2.h.bar) for 200 ppm crude oil contaminated oily feed (surfactant stabilized crude oil-in-water emulsion). After a prolonged use of 540 min, the permeate flux declined due to the accumulation of organic pollutants present in the oily water. The original flux was restored by initiating photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants by the exposure of UV radiation on the used membrane surface. The ZnO-deposited Al2O3 membrane shows an excellent light induced photocatalytic self-cleaning and antifouling with flux recovery ratio of around 88 %. In addition to this application, this manuscript also presents the morphological, elemental, structural, and topological characterizations of coated membrane.