Nanoconfined catalytic water purification within CoFeCu LDH-assembled membrane nanochannels

Herein, we developed a trimetallic CoFeCu-layered double hydroxide (LDH) assembled nanoconfined catalytic membrane, innovatively combining membrane filtration and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The CoFeCu-LDH nanoconfined catalytic membrane was shown to directly oxidize and mineralize micropollutants, rather than concentrating them within the brine, while also maintaining high water permeability with harmless membrane permeate. The first-order rate constant for 100% degradation of endocrine disrupting chemicals (bisphenol A), and pharmaceuticals (ranitidine, carbamazepine, oxytetracycline) (e.g., 2.40 ms−1 for ranitidine) by the CoFeCu-LDH catalytic membrane and its ultra-high water permeance of 2378.4 LMH/bar, were 1–3 orders of magnitude and 2−2000-fold higher than that of other state-of-the-art catalytic membranes, respectively. This study provides a reference for the development of sustainable and efficient catalytic membranes for water purification.