Co-enhancement of permeability and selectivity on mixed matrix catalytic membrane with high loading of porous Co-N-C filler for efficient water purification

The water treatment performance of membrane filtration is usually restricted via the paradox between permeability and selectivity. Herein, the nitrogen doped porous carbon supported Co catalysts (CoNPC), serving as both porous filler and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator, were firstly filled into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix to construct a novel mixed matrix catalytic membrane (CoNPC@PVDF) for enhanced water purification. Owing to the robust binding between CoNPC and PVDF, a high loading (50 wt%) and even dispersion of CoNPC were realized in CoNPC@PVDF, and its permeability and selectivity were both improved with the increase of CoNPC content. The optimum CoNPC@PVDF with PMS activation assistance (FCP) exhibited effective phenol removal at short retention time (1.5 s) and high permeability (256.6 L m−2h−1 bar−1). The performance of CoNPC@PVDF FCP was 2.9 and 2.5 times higher than that of filtration alone and PMS activation alone, respectively, and even dramatically outweighed the reported catalytic membranes and heterogeneous catalysts. The outstanding performance of CoNPC@PVDF catalytic membrane was mainly attributed to its thin membrane structure and high filling degree of CoNPC, resulting in ultrahigh mass transfer rate (1.8 × 10−4 m s−1) and more exposed active sites for enhanced PMS activation into radicals (mainly •OH and SO4•−) towards pollutant removal.