Development of high flux photocatalytic agcl-cooh-mwcnt/pes ultrafiltration membranes for enhanced waste water treatment and fouling mitigation

In this study, Ag2CO3-COOH-MWCNT/PES was converted to AgCl-COOH-MWCNT/PES by acid treatment, which increased the pore size of the membrane with high retention rate and improved the permeate flux of the membrane. In addition, the photocatalytic effect of the composite membrane was improved by the combination of AgCl and CNT. [Display omitted] •Innovative design: Fusion of AgCl and COOH-MWCNT into the membrane structure, making it multifunctional with photocatalytic, antibacterial and antifouling properties.•Significant Performance Enhancement: The composite membrane exhibited a substantial increase in water flux (by 150 %) while maintaining a high BSA rejection rate of 95 %.•Efficient Anti-Fouling and Antibacterial Properties: Demonstrated photocatalytic anti-fouling capabilities with a 91.8 % flux recovery rate under UV irradiation against BSA, and showed exceptional antibacterial efficacy with over 99 % inhibition of E. coli. A structurally stable AgCl-COOH MWCNT/PES composite membrane was designed and fabricated by combining phase conversion and post-treatment techniques, which can solve the serious membrane fouling in industrial wastewater treatment. The carboxylation of MWCNTs not only enhanced their dispersion but also facilitated their binding with silver chloride, resulting in a stable composite structure that significantly improved contaminant degradation capabilities. The post-treatment technique increased the membrane’s water purification flux by 150 % (reaching 520 L·m2·h−1·bar−1) while maintaining a high BSA retention rate of 95 %. Additionally, the composite membrane demonstrated excellent photocatalytic antifouling properties, with a flux recovery rate of 91.8 % under UV irradiation, and exhibited more than 99 % inhibition of Escherichia coli. This method provides a scalable solution for enhancing the performance of PES membranes in wastewater treatment applications.