• Cu and N doped biochar (Cu@NBC) was fabricated from the waste adsorbent. • The Cu@NBC/PDS system equipped with resistance to anions in high-salinity wastewater. • Cu@NBC can be uniformly deposited onto the PSF membrane. • Cu@NBC/PSF membrane exhibited instantaneous catalytic performance. • Electron-transfer process can inactivate bacteria to relieve membrane fouling. Organic pollutants decomposition in high-salinity wastewater is still a challenge for environmental restoration due to the inhibitory effects results from the consumption of radicals by anions. Herein, we demonstrated a non-radical oxidation process via the peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation rather than photocatalysis by the Cu 2+ adsorbed adsorbent-based nitrogen doped biochar (Cu@NBC) for efficiently decontaminating polycarbonate plant wastewater (PCW). After the pyrolysis, the Cu 2+ in the waste biosorbent were reduced to Cu 2 O, and the N-doping improved the fixation of Cu and the formation of Cu 2 O. Through both dynamic fitting and characterization analysis, the critical role of Cu 2 O in PDS activation rather than photocatalysis was revealed for the first time. Different from always reported 1 O 2 dominated non-radical process, an electron-transfer mechanism involving surface metastable species was proved to play a key role in the Cu@NBC/PDS system. Benefit from the electron-transfer process, the Cu@NBC/PDS system equipped with high resistance to the anions in high-salinity wastewater. The results indicated that BPA as well as chemical oxygen demand (COD) could be effective removal within 90 min. We further deposited the activator on an ultrafiltration membrane and exhibited a rapid oxidation of BPA as the wastewater passed through the filter, and the composite membrane can effectively inactivate bacteria, which will provide a safety strategy for mitigation of membrane fouling.