Dynamic photocatalytic membrane coated with ZnIn2S4 for enhanced photocatalytic performance and antifouling property

The dynamic photocatalytic membrane coated with ZnIn2S4 was fabricated to solve the problems of suspended photocatalyst separation and membrane fouling that occur in applying photocatalytic technology and membrane separation technology, respectively. The structural characteristics, photocatalytic performance, and antifouling property of dynamic photocatalytic membranes with different loadings of ZnIn2S4 were systematically investigated. As the loading of photocatalysts increases, a uniform and dense photocatalytic layer formed on the membrane surface, and the surface morphology changed from a protruding structure to an undulating mountain-like structure. The roughness and absorption performance for UV–Vis of dynamic photocatalytic membranes increased because of the formation of a photocatalytic layer while the chemical property and water flux did not change. The removal efficiencies of fluvastatin and total organic carbon by dynamic photocatalytic membranes were significantly increased compared with that of the pristine polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane, indicating that the dynamic photocatalytic membranes possessed excellent photocatalytic performance and high stability. Meanwhile, the dynamic photocatalytic membranes exhibited a greater antifouling property than the pristine PVDF membrane because of the formation of the photocatalytic layer on the membrane surface. Therefore, the fabrication of dynamic photocatalytic membrane is an effective method to promote the advantageous combination of photocatalytic technology and membrane separation technology.