Enhanced Filtration Performance Research Articles

Simultaneous enhanced antibiotic pollutants removal and sustained permeability of the membrane involving CoFe2O4/MoS2 catalyst initiated with simple H2O2 backwashing

Membranes for wastewater treatment should ideally exhibit sustainable high permeate production, enhanced pollutant removal, and intrinsic physical rejection. In this study, CoFe2O4/MoS2 serves as a non-homogeneous phase catalyst; it is combined with polyether sulfone membranes via liquid-induced phase separation to simultaneously sustain membrane permeability and enhance antibiotic pollutant degradation. The prepared catalytic membranes have higher pure water flux (329.34 L m−2 h−1) than pristine polyethersulfone membranes (219.03 L m−2 h−1), as well as higher mean pore size, porosity, and hydrophilicity. Under a moderate transmembrane pressure (0.05 MPa), tetracycline (TC) in synthetic and real wastewater was degraded by the optimal catalytic membrane by 72.7 % and 91.2 %, respectively. Owing to the generation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the Fenton-like reaction process, the catalytic membrane could exclude the natural organics during the H2O2 backwash step and selectively promote fouling degradation in the membrane channel. The irreversible fouling ratio of the catalyzed membrane was significantly reduced, and the flux recovery rate increased by up to 91.6 %. A potential catalytic mechanism and TC degradation pathways were proposed. This study offers valuable insights for designing catalytic membranes with enhanced filtration performance.

Synergistically controlling biofouling and improving membrane module permeability by using simultaneously structurally optimized and surface modified feed spacers

This study developed a new protocol to prepare feed spacers in the membrane module, by combining the optimization of spacers’ geometrical parameters with subsequent chemical modification of the spacers’ surface, to enhance filtration performance comprehensively. Geometrical parameters of columnar spacers were optimized using an object-oriented and automatic optimization method based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation coupled with response surface optimization. In chemical modification, polydopamine was firstly used to provide anti-adhesive properties, followed by the even integration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to exhibit antimicrobial activity. Anti-biofouling experiments involving Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria demonstrated that the combined structurally optimized and chemically modified spacers resulted in over 10% improvement in permeate flux and a 27% reduction in feed channel pressure (FCP) drop. Chemical modification enhanced the structural optimization resistance to flux attenuation and FCP drop increase by over 220% and 200%, respectively. Analysis of the anti-biofouling behavior indicated that the primary mechanism of the integrated, optimized spacers lies in the increased wall shear, bactericidal activity of AgNPs, and improved interfacial interaction energy between the spacers and foulants. This study not only developed a novel modification method for anti-biofouling spacers, but also provides in-depth understanding of the roles of modified spacers, all of which are important for their practical applications in improving membrane filtration performance.

Specialized spatially-arranged non-circular fibers enhance filtration performance of African shrimp (Atya gabonensis).

African shrimp (Atya gabonensis) inhabit clear freshwaters, where the notably low concentration of food may pose a challenge to the efficacy of filter fibers on the chela for filter-feeding. Here, we investigate how the distinctive cross-sectional characteristics and spatial arrangement of the African shrimp's non-circular fibers contribute to the enhanced filtration performance of these specialized fibers. The unilateral thickening of the wall along the long axis of the elliptical cross-section of African shrimp fibers markedly enhances the filtration performance. The staggered and twisted arrangement of the fibers optimizes the surrounding flow field, achieving a favorable balance between pressure drop and collection efficiency, consequently improving their filtration performance in collecting fine particles (diameter: 2-10μm). Moreover, the arrangement of the fibers substantially increases the effective flow-facing filtering area of the fiber bundles, thus facilitating their efficiency in collecting larger particles (diameter > 10μm). The unique fiber properties of the African shrimp offer novel insights for the design and optimization of new fiber-filtering robots, presenting a wide range of potential applications, such as marine in-situ resource extraction, medical filtration, and industrial filtration.

Production of filter material from various natural fibers

In this study, a composite filter paper was fabricated using cellulose derived from Flax and cotton linters, along with the incorporation of basalt fiber. The aim was to develop a filter paper with enhanced filtration performance and mechanical strength.The composition and properties of the mineral filler employed in the preparation of the filter paper were thoroughly investigated. The mineral filler, which played a crucial role in influencing the properties of the composite, was carefully selected and characterized. Its particle size, surface area, and chemical composition were analyzed to understand its impact on the filtration efficiency and mechanical integrity of the filter paper.To evaluate the performance of the composite filter paper, comprehensive testing methods were employed. The filtration efficiency, pressure drop across the filter, and mechanical strength properties such as tensile strength and burst strength were assessed. These tests provided quantitative data to determine the effectiveness of the composite filter paper in capturing particles of varying sizes and its structural stability during the experimental investigation were presented in graphical form to provide a clear visual representation of the data. These graphs allowed for easy interpretation and comparison of the properties and performance of the composite filter paper under different conditions.

Optimisation of punching parameters for enhanced filtration performance of non-woven by response surface methodology

This work highlights the relevance of punch density, needle penetration depth and basis weight on the nonwoven fabric’s properties. Fibre fineness-specific optimised carding parameters, that is feeder, cylinder and doffer speeds were used for the preparation of carded web to produce considered basis weight of carded batts. Fabric thickness, bursting strength, mean flow pore size, air permeability, air filtration efficiency and pressure drop were extensively investigated, and a relationship was developed using the Box–Behnken design. The punch density and needle penetration depth were optimised to achieve the required levels of mean flow pore size at constant basis weight for enhancing the air filtration behaviour of non-woven fabrics.

Enhancing filtration performance of submicron particle filter media through bimodal structural design

AbstractDepth filtration is a widely utilized mechanism for submicron aerosol filtration using disposable filter cartridges and facemasks. The filter media should be carefully engineered to reach high filtration efficiency and dust‐loading capacity at the expense of a low‐pressure drop (ΔP). Filter media with bimodal fiber diameter distribution enhance particle capture by creating small pores with tiny fibers, while microfibers improve airflow, reduce ΔP, and increase the effective filter area for particle retention. In this study, bimodal filters were achieved through the homogeneous distribution or layered use of nanofibers and microfibers. The impact of the bimodal design was explored using fibrous mats produced through melt‐blowing, solution‐blowing, and electroblowing methods. Keeping the basis weight of filter samples at 30 gsm, using four‐layered filters (4L) improved air permeability compared to single‐layer samples. The 4L sample exhibited the highest performance, achieving 99.52% efficiency at 148 Pa. Moreover, replacing the melt‐blown layer with bimodal mats in the 4L design increased the filtration efficiency to 99.61% keeping ΔP nearly the same. The corona discharge treatment yielded the highest efficiency (99.99%) in the 4BML sample, even after 1 month the efficiency was maintained at 99.90%, highlighting the advantage of bimodal fiber distribution in electret filters.Highlights Four‐layered filter (4L) structures resulted in improved air permeability. Bimodal layer (BL) achieved by adding SB nanofibers into the melt blowing. BL in 4L structure increased the efficiency from 99.52% to 99.61%. Modified BL sample (4BML) provides the highest QF (0.044 Pa−1) after 1 month.

Photocatalytic membrane coated with α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 for enhanced filtration performance and antifouling property in surface water treatment

A photocatalytic membrane coated with α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanoparticles has been developed to address the challenges of membrane fouling and organic removal in the treatment of natural surface water. The photocatalytic and filtration properties of the membranes were investigated through a variety of methods. The successful preparation of iron oxide was confirmed by UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra and X-ray diffractometry, with α-Fe2O3 identified as the primary photocatalytic agent. A commercial ultrafiltration (UF) membrane was employed as a comparison to evaluate the photocatalytic performance and filtration properties of the modified membrane. Results showed that the photocatalytic membrane achieved better removal rates for UV254 (22.0%) and specific fluorescent organic compounds, such as component 2 (19.38%) and component 3 (16.89%), compared to the control group. Furthermore, both irreversible and reversible fouling resistances of the prepared membranes were significantly lower than that of the control group, with reductions of 39.4% and 50.2%, respectively. The membrane coated with α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanoparticles exhibited moderate removal of protein-like and terrestrially derived humic-like fluorescent organics while controlling membrane fouling. Although the α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanoparticles-coated photocatalytic membrane demonstrated good anti-fouling properties, the removals of organic matters were not as effective as anticipated due to the shorter hydraulic retention time. This study provides valuable insights for enhancing pollutant degradation and anti-fouling properties of membranes through the utilization of solar photocatalytic α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 surface-modified membranes in the treatment of natural surface water.

Development of an automatic and object-oriented method for spacer design in the spiral wound nanofiltration modules to comprehensively enhance filtration performance

Adjustment of feed spacers holds the potential to effectively address the inherent trade-off between permeate flux, anti-fouling capabilities, and feed channel pressure (FCP) drop, consequently enhancing the filtration performance of spiral wound modules (SWM). In this study, a novel automated spacers design approach based on response surface methodology and multi-objective genetic algorithm was successfully developed and experimentally verified, for the first time. By establishing the correlation between spacer parameters and key performance parameters of nanofiltration SWM (average wall shear, specific energy consumption, etc.), the design method facilitated the screening and optimization of the optimal spacer parameters by manipulating the variables spacer parameters to locally modify the spacer shapes and then to improve filtration performance. Subsequent simulations and experiments both demonstrated that, in contrast to the traditional spacer, the optimized spacer exhibited remarkable efficacy in striking a balance between membrane performance and energy consumption. Specifically, flux attenuation was reduced by 8 %, and minimum wall shear increased by 57.9 %, resulting in a significant reduction in membrane fouling. This report presents a small-scale and practical approach to spacer's local design, offering a valuable solution to address the inherent constraints posed by the interplay among permeation, anti-fouling, and FCP drop.

Enhanced reverse osmosis filtration via chaotic advection induced by patterned membranes: A numerical study

This paper numerically explores the potential of patterned membranes inducing chaotic advection to enhance the efficiency of reverse osmosis (RO) filtration. We compared the filtration performance of four different membrane patterns: flat surface (FS), lateral pattern (LP), herringbone pattern (HP), and staggered herringbone pattern (SHP). The dimensionless pattern depth (dp∗) and the Reynolds number (Re) were chosen as key parameters with influence on the flow and mass transfer characteristics. The numerical scheme was validated by comparing concentration profiles and permeate flux to the experimental data. Poincaré sections were used to represent the dynamical systems in spatially periodic filtration modules. Numerical simulations were conducted for an RO process with an aqueous NaCl solution, varying dp∗ and Re within the ranges of dp∗≤0.3 and 100≤Re≤1000. The HP and SHP significantly enhanced filtration performance compared to the FS and LP, regardless of Re. Chaotic advection induced by the HP and SHP effectively suppressed concentration polarization by transporting solutes away from membrane surfaces and uniformly redistributing them back to the feed stream. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the patterned membranes inducing chaotic advection can enhance the energy efficiency of RO filtration as well.

Preparation of site-specific Z-scheme g-C3N4/PAN/PANI@LaFeO3 cable nanofiber membranes by coaxial electrospinning: Enhancing filtration and photocatalysis performance

The coaxial electrospinning method for preparation of g-C3N4/polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/polyaniline (PANI)@LaFeO3 cable fiber membrane (PC@PL) was designed for adsorption-filtration-photodegradation of pollutants. A series of characterization results show that LaFeO3 and g-C3N4 nanoparticles (NPs) are respectively loaded in the inner and outer layers of PAN/PANI composite fibers to construct the site-specific Z-type heterojunction system with spatially separated morphologies. The PANI in cable not only possesses abundant exposed amino/imino functional groups for adsorption of contaminant molecules but also due to the excellent electrical conductivity works as a redox medium for collecting and consuming the electrons and holes from LaFeO3 and g-C3N4, which can efficiently promote photo-generated charge carriers separation and improve the catalytic performance. Further investigations demonstrate that as a photo-Fenton catalyst LaFeO3 in PC@PL catalyzes/activates the H2O2 generated in situ by LaFeO3/g-C3N4, further enhancing the decontamination efficiency of the PC@PL. The porous, hydrophilic, antifouling, flexible and reusable properties of the PC@PL membrane significantly enhance the mass transfer efficiency of reactants by filtration effect and increase the amount of dissolved oxygen, thus producing massive •OH for degradation of pollutants, which maintains the water flux (1184 L m−2. h−1 (LMH)) and the rejection rate (98.5%). Profiting from its unique synergistic effect of adsorption, photo-Fenton and filtration, PC@PL exhibits wonderful self-cleaning performance and distinguished removal rate for methylene blue (97.0%), methyl violet (94.3%), ciprofloxacin (87.6%) and acetamiprid (88.9%) within 75 min, disinfection (100% Escherichia coli (E. coli) and 80% Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) inactivation)) and excellent cycle stability.

Effect of varying cycle time interval and aerosol pre-charge on filtration performance of polyester media

Present study embodies filtration characterization of two nonwoven needle-felt polyester filter materials, viz. PTFE coated and without coated media. The materials have been assessed using flyash aerosol under varying time intervals (6, 9 and 12 min) at different inlet dust densities (50, 90 and 150 g/m3). The flyash particles are charged prior to their deposition over the filter media using a three phase parallel plate box pre-charger at two different levels of pre-charge, viz. 4 kV and 8 kV along with 0 kV. Results reveal that the filtration performance for PTFE coated material is better under all conditions. However, an enhanced filtration performance in terms of particle emission and pressure drop is noted at increased pre-charge level and higher cyclic interval. It may also be noted that the level of improvement in filtration behavior for both the materials has been better at initial level of pre-charge from 0 kV to 4 kV. However, the cumulative behavior of all the factors is also found significant.

Gradient crosslinking optimization for the selective layer to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofiltration (NF) membrane: The enhanced filtration performance and potential rejection for EDCs

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been employed and crosslinked as the selective layer of NF membranes with enhanced hydrophilicity. However, the influences of different crosslinking methods and agents on the reaction mechanism and membrane performance still need to be comprehensively studied. In this study, NF membranes were prepared by coating crosslinking (CC-membrane) and gradient crosslinking (GC-membrane) methods. Compared with CC-membrane, the GC-membrane possessed a 65% higher flux with Na2SO4 rejection around 90%, under the optimal preparation conditions with PVA content of 0.10%, curing at 80 °C for 10 min. Crosslinking agents including 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (TMA), 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) with different spatial structure were used to optimize the GC-membrane. As confirmed by SEM, XPS, FTIR and contact angle tests, the 6FDA-GC membrane showed a thinner, smoother and more hydrophilic selective layer, and kept an excellent balance between the water flux (88.6 L/m2h) and Na2SO4 rejection (88.7%). This is because the 6FDA with a large molecule and flexible spatial structure could form a more integrated crosslinking structure compared to PMDA. Meanwhile, the 6FDA-GC membrane showed rejections of over 80% towards the endocrine-disrupting compound 17α-Ethinylestradiol and exhibited stable antifouling ability and durability. Overall, this work studied systematically the influences of various crosslinking agents on the GC-membrane, and verified the potential of hydrophilic PVA membranes for nanofiltration.

Polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membrane modified with polyamic acid- stabilized silver nanoparticles for enhanced filtration performance and antibacterial effects

Polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membrane modified with polyamic acid- stabilized silver nanoparticles for enhanced filtration performance and antibacterial effects

Layered nonwoven filter embodied with packing density gradient measured by X-ray computed tomography for enhanced filtration performance

This research explores the possibility of tuning the structure of needle-punched nonwoven fabrics by incorporating layers of differently oriented fibres. The fibre orientation in carded batts is regulated with the help of carding parameters viz. feeder, cylinder, and doffer speeds. The carding parameters were optimized by using response surface methodology to obtain carded batts of differently oriented fibers, which were then placed distinctly to form composite layered nonwoven fabrics. The physical, mechanical, and functional properties of layered fabrics were evaluated. X-ray computed tomography technique was used for comprehensive evaluation of the packing densities at incremental thickness of layered fabrics. The obtained trends of packing density were found to be in good agreement with the measured properties of nonwoven fabrics. The creation of an inverse gradient of packing density in a layered nonwoven fabrics displayed close to highest filtration efficiency and close to lowest pressure drop.

Impact of needle-point bipolar ionization system in the reduction of bioaerosols in collective transport

The transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 is higher in collective transport than in other public environments. Transport companies require preventive strategies to mitigate airborne risk of contagion which not imply responsible use at the individual level. Air purification systems, such as UV-C or needle-tip bipolar ionization, are attractive alternatives. However, only a few studies addressing the validation of this technology against bioaerosols in actual operation conditions have been published so far. In this work, the efficiency of a bipolar ionization unit in the Zaragoza Tram has been evaluated. Against environmental bioaerosols, ionization (~25.7 · 109 ions/m3, on average) reduced the concentration of colony-forming units (CFU) by ~46 % and ~69 % after 30 and 90 min. No clear benefits were obtained against microorganisms on inner tram surfaces (seats, grab bars, walls, and windows). ‘Pre-pandemic’ filtration equipment located in the HVAC based on a Coarse 45 %-type filter removed ~73 and ~ 92 % of aerial CFU by itself after 30 and 90 min. Microscopic visualization of the CFUs revealed that they were mostly >1 μm, much larger than the SARS-CoV-2 virion (~100 nm) and SARS-CoV-2-loaded bioaerosols (from 0.25 μm). Then, we studied the filter behavior under normalized laboratory methods. The filters efficiency against submicron particles was limited (between 5 and 12 % against 0.1 to 0.3 μm NaCl particles). Another ionization strategy was to generate aerosol agglomerates to enhance filtration performance, but the combined action of ionization and filtration did not improve substantially. The effect of these technologies was also characterized using the clean air delivery rate (CADR). Relative to untreated air (CADR = 0.299 m3/min), ionization and filtration reduce ambient CFUs (CADR = 5.153 and 9.261 m3/min, respectively; and CADR = 13.208 m3/min, combined) which implies that it has a substantial impact on indoor bioaerosols.

Dynamic scouring of multifunctional granular material enhances filtration performance in membrane bioreactor: Mechanism and modeling

The granular material (GM) is able to effectively improve the membrane fouling control in membrane bioreactor (MBR) by dynamic scouring, adsorption behavior and enzymatic degradation. However, their roles and effects on the filtration performance of MBR remain unclear. The present work investigated the GM dynamic scouring mechanism, revealed the multifunctional quantitative evaluation, and clarified the filtration performance at various GM operating conditions in MBR. First, the aerobic granular sludge (AGS)-filtration process was still limited by the presence of irreversible membrane fouling, which decreased the filtration performance in MBR (threshold flux [169.5 L m−2 h−1] and (turning point of membrane fouling resistance [1.1 × 1012 m−1]). To solve this problem, the GMs (activated carbon [AC] and laccase immobilized activated carbon [LAC]) was added into the AGS-filtration process to enhance the filtration performance. Above all, based on momentum conservation, the dynamic scouring mathematical model was put forward to elucidate the dynamic scouring mechanism of GM towards the membrane surface. The scouring stress on the membrane surface was proportional to the total mass of GM and offered an additional shear effect for clearly promoting the collision between GM and foulant, and decreasing their deposition on the membrane surface via friction with the membrane. Then, both AC and LAC exhibited a highly desirable adsorption efficiency for foulant removal, whereas the enzymatic degradation of LAC also furtherly straightened this effect. Furthermore, a new contribution quantification model was proposed for evaluating the contribution rates of dynamic scouring (59.1%), adsorption behavior (36.4%) and enzymatic degradation (4.6%) to boost the filtration performance, implying that the dynamic scouring and adsorption behavior brought about the dominated promotion. At the GM of 8 g/L and size of 300–600 μm, AGS-filtration exhibited an optimized performance in term of threshold flux, turning point of membrane fouling resistance and membrane cleaning. The present study offers insights into the mechanism that GM multifunctional scouring enhanced filtration performance in MBR.

Fabrication of a carbon/polytetrafluoroethylene nanoparticle-coated antistatic bag filter using air-assisted electrospraying

Fabric bag filters have been widely used as air pollution control equipment owing to their high collection efficiency. However, the low efficiency of the fabric filtration method against fine dust and the high operating cost owing to the high-pressure drop have restricted its effective application. In addition, the filling of the fabric of bag filters by the passage of gas and deposited charged dust particles results in the generation of a static electricity that can cause a fire. To solve this problem, this study aimed to develop an antistatic filter by electrospraying carbon nanoparticles. The surface properties and conductivity of the antistatic filter as a function of the mixing ratio were compared, and the particle filtration performance as a function of the coating type was confirmed by evaluating the filter filtration performance. The results revealed that among the samples that exhibited conductivity, the sample with a mixing ratio of 1:1 exhibited the highest resistance value and best hydrophobicity. In addition, the filter performance evaluation revealed that the coated filter exhibited enhanced filtration performance compared to the uncoated filter at all particle ranges.

Enhanced filtration performance of biocarriers facilitated gravity-driven membrane (GDM) by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) pretreatment: Membrane biofouling characteristics and bacterial investigation

Membrane biofouling is a challenge for biocarriers facilitated gravity-driven membrane (GDM) systems to achieve high-efficiency filtration in decentralized drinking water treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) as a pretreatment on membrane fouling, permeate water quality and bacterial communities. VUV pretreatment was found to significantly reduce the cake layer resistance by 24.4% and the membrane pore resistance by 40.0% (p < 0.05), resulting in a 22.2% increase in stable flux. The removal of low molecular weight neutrals and protein-like materials was enhanced by 22.5% and 40.1% respectively after VUV pretreatment. The heterogeneity of the biofouling layer was improved by VUV pretreatment, and the porosity and roughness were increased by 227.5% and 46.5%, respectively. The application of VUV pretreatment resulted in a larger nanoparticle size in the biofouling layer suspension (peak at 85.4 nm), improvement in the membrane hydrophilicity, and a decrease in protein-like substances adhesion. The richness and diversity of the bacterial community were decreased by VUV pretreatment. The bacterial community structure had the highest mantel correlation with biopolymers (r = 0.89). Overall, VUV pretreatment can be a promising strategy to effectively alleviate membrane biofouling in biocarriers facilitated GDM systems.

In Situ Chemical Modification with Zwitterionic Copolymers of Nanofiltration Membranes: Cure for the Trade-Off between Filtration and Antifouling Performance.

Breaking the trade-off between filtration performance and antifouling property is critical to enabling a thin-film nanocomposite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membrane for a wide range of feed streams. We proposed a novel design route for TFC NF membranes by grafting well-defined zwitterionic copolymers of [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (SBMA) and 2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride (AEMA) on the polyamide surfaces via an in situ surface chemical modification process. The successful grafting of a zwitterionic copolymer imparted the modified NF membranes with better surface hydrophilicity, a larger actual surface area (i.e., nodular structures), and a thinner polyamide layer. As a result, the water permeability of the modified membrane (i.e., TFC-10) was triple that of the pristine TFC membrane while maintaining high Na2SO4 rejection. We further demonstrated that the TFC-10 membrane possessed exceptional antifouling properties in both static adsorption tests and three cycles of dynamic protein and humic acid fouling tests. To recap, this work provides valuable insights and strategies for the fabrication of TFC NF membranes with simultaneously enhanced filtration performance and antifouling property.

Highly Efficient Oxygen-Activated Self-Cleaning Membranes Prepared by Grafting a Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Catalyst.

In this study, an efficient oxygen-activated self-cleaning membrane was successfully prepared by grafting a metal-organic framework-devised catalyst (CuNi-C) onto a membrane surface, resulting in enhanced filtration performance and self-cleaning capability based on oxygen activation under mild conditions. The pore features, surface roughness, and surface hydrophilicity of the prepared membrane were analyzed and used to determine the causes of the enhanced filtration performance; the results showed that an increase in the porosity and surface roughness enhanced the permeate flux, and enhanced adsorption capacity and surface hydrophobicity improved the membrane removal efficiency. The self-cleaning mechanism was elucidated by identifying the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and detecting catalytic element valences. The results revealed that zero-valent Cu embedded into the membrane surface effectively activated natural dissolved oxygen (DO) to generate ROS that degraded organic pollutants. In this study, catalytic oxidation with DO as the oxidant was successively integrated with membrane separation to prevent membrane fouling, providing a novel direction for the development of multifunctional membranes.