Application and prospects of metal–organic frameworks in photocatalytic self-cleaning membranes for wastewater treatment

Abstract

In the long-term use of separation membranes, contamination of the membrane by pollutants can seriously affect the separation efficiency of the membrane. Photocatalytic membranes can effectively integrate membrane separation and photocatalytic degradation processes to provide an environmentally friendly solution for efficient water purification. The development of visible-light-driven high-efficiency photocatalytic membranes is of practical significance for the long-term stability of membrane separation systems. MOFs are compatible with polymers, abundant functional groups, and high catalytic activity. By loading the photo-catalytically active MOFs onto the separation membrane, the degradation of organic pollutants can be effectively catalyzed, thus realizing the self-cleaning function of the membrane. This paper discusses the structure, synthesis, and properties of photocatalytic MOFs. The preparation method of MOF photocatalytic composite membranes and the effect of MOFs on the performance of composite membranes are summarized. Finally, the challenges and future research directions for the photocatalytic self-cleaning membranes with MOFs are presented.