Integrated On-Site Electrocatalytic H 2 O 2 Synthesis and Membrane Catalysis for Sustainable High-Salinity Wastewater Treatment

On-site hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation from wastewater and its direct utilization for pollutant degradation provide a sustainable, low-carbon strategy for treating high-salinity effluents. Here, we innovatively propose an integrated electrocatalytic–nanofiltration platform that couples in situ H2O2 production with catalytic membrane separation, enabling simultaneous oxidation and desalination while avoiding external H2O2 or electrolyte addition. We first fabricated a binder-free, oxygen-functionalized carbon nanotube/Ni electrode exhibiting high activity and selectivity toward H2O2 generation and achieving a high H2O2 concentration of up to 0.8 g·L–1 from real high-salinity wastewater. By coupling the electrolytic system with an efficient catalytic nanofiltration membrane, a synergistic electro-membrane process was established. Further scale-up of electrode and membrane modules enabled the development of an integrated platform that achieved up to 90% chemical oxygen demand removal and 98% sulfate ion retention in real pharmaceutical wastewater. Life-cycle assessment further revealed 34% lower carbon emissions and 36% reduced operational costs compared with conventional processes, underscoring the sustainability of this approach. Overall, this study demonstrates a practical and environmentally friendly strategy that integrates electrocatalytic H2O2 generation with membrane catalysis, advancing low-carbon and resource-efficient technologies for advanced purification and water reuse of high-salinity wastewater.