Defective cobalt-nitrogen dual-doped carbon materials for enhanced tetracycline hydrochloride degradation in flow-through electro-Fenton-membrane system

Tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) is recognized as a newly emerging water pollutant with significant implications for human health and environmental quality. Conventional electro-Fenton (EF) processes often entail high energy consumption due to inherent limitations in mass transfer efficiency. Thus, a flow-through EF-membrane separation reactor was developed to synergistically achieve efficient filtration enrichment and oxidative degradation of TC. A defective-state cobalt-nitrogen double-doped carbon material (Co-NPC) derived from metal-organic materials could in-situ generate and self-decompose H 2 O 2 into highly reactive ·OH radicals for TC degradation. The activated membrane (Co-NPC/CNT/PVDF) is obtained by ultrasonically mixing Co-NPC with conductive CNT and filtering it onto a PVDF membrane. Remarkably, EF system with Co-NPC/CNT/PVDF membrane exhibited a remarkable TC degradation efficiency of 98 % within 2 min, with sustained degradation efficiency exceeding 90 % over 40 min. Moreover, the mineralization efficiency remained stable at approximately 55 %, harnessing the combined capabilities of membrane separation, enrichment, and catalytic oxidation for pollutant remediation. Benefitting from its hydrophilicity, specific surface area, pore size, and superior TC removal performance, the Co-NPC/CNT/PVDF membrane demonstrated exceptional self-cleaning properties and robust resistance to external disturbances. This innovative approach presents a promising strategy for the efficient in-situ production of H 2 O 2 and degradation of pollutants, offering potential advancements in water treatment technology.