Preparation and characterization of fouling-resistant photocatalytic metal membrane embedded with self-organized TiO2 nano tube

A self-organized nano-structured, photocatalytic TiO₂ membrane with large surface area of anatase crystallites was successfully fabricated by anodization. The nano-structured anodized TiO₂ membrane was characterized using SEM, XRD and TEM techniques and the operational parameters to fabricate such as anodization time and applied anodic potential were also investigated. The anodized TiO₂ membrane showed high photocatalytic performance in terms of refractory organics decomposition, bacteria inactivation and membrane permeability, which suggests that problems of conventional photocatalytic treatment and membrane filtration in water and wastewater treatment may be reduced using this combined process.