Recent advances in photocatalytic membranes for pharmaceuticals and personal care products removal from water and wastewater

The insufficient removal of refractory pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) obstacles the reclamation of wastewater and threatens water security. Photocatalytic membrane (PM), a hybrid water treatment method by integrating photocatalysis with membrane filtration, has drawn considerable attention in the removal of PPCPs from aquatic circumstances. This review consolidates the recent advances in the application of PMs for the removal of PPCPs from contaminated water. Various methods for fabricating PMs are analyzed for different photocatalysts in view of the fundamental properties of membrane and photocatalytic activity. Strategies to enhance the photodegradation for PPCPs by inducing plasmonic nanoparticles, heterojunctions and mass transfer effect are emphasized in detail. Furthermore, the applications of typical PMs (TiO2-based, g-C3N4-based) and key factors affecting PPCPs removal are discussed based on the literature database. Ultimately, future research efforts are highlighted for PMs aiming for enhancing light utilization, improving mineralization performance and ensuring the stability and reusability of PMs.