An MXene–Titania Nanofiltration Membrane with Thermocatalytic Activity for Water Pollution Removal

Herein, we designed a multifunctional thermocatalytic nanofiltration membrane, which consists of a MXene–TiO₂ nanocomposite incorporated within a humic acid-like crosslinked graphene oxide (GO–HAL) matrix on the surface of polyethersulfone support. The membrane combined molecular separation, dark thermocatalytic degradation, and fouling mitigation without external irradiation and added oxidants. Model feeds were Bisphenol A (BPA) and effluent from a municipal wastewater-treatment-plant. The MTG-98.6 composition accomplished nearly 52% BPA removal in 120 min at 50 °C, and an apparent pseudo-first-order rate constant of (6.2 ± 0.3) × 10^-3 min^-1 on a mass basis was higher than that of the unsupported MXene–TiO₂. It yielded a membrane with a water permeance of 1.3 L m^-2 h^-1 bar^-1. Feed BPA after 18 h of crossflow filtration decreased from 10.19 ± 0.03 mg L^-1 to 4.1 mg L^-1, whereas the permeate BPA concentration remained stable (0.33 ± 0.09 mg L^-1) and rejection decreased only from approximately 97% to 94%. The permeate TOC from wastewater tests was also lower than for the GO–HAL reference. XPS confirmed retention of the catalytic phase after filtration, demonstrating chemical stability under the applied conditions and operational repeatability. Acute ecotoxicity tests indicated low toxicity to Aliivibrio fischeri and Raphidocelis subcapitata, whereas Daphnia magna survival depended on nanocomposite concentration and temperature. These results support MXene–TiO₂/GO–HAL membranes for simultaneous nanofiltration and thermocatalytic removal of emerging organic contaminants using low-grade heat.

Antifouling; Bisphenol a removal; MXene–TiO2 nanocomposite; Nanofiltration; Self-cleaning membrane

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