Photocatalytic membranes containing homocoupled conjugated microporous poly(phenylene butadiynylene) for chemical-free degradation of organic micropollutants

Polysulfone-based nanofiltration membranes containing homocoupled conjugated microporous poly(phenylene butadiynylene) (HCMP) were prepared via phase inversion to study the chemical-free degradation of organic micropollutants. The cumulative adsorptive-photocatalytic effect was higher for the membrane containing HCMP, M0.5HCMP (99%), compared to reference membrane, M0 (74%). Rhodamine B (RhB) rejections of 95% and 96% were found for M0 and M0.5HCMP membrane, respectively, with permeances of 6.91 L m−2 h−1 bar −1 and 2.15 L m−2 h−1 bar −1. The HCMP-containing membrane showed good stability in long-term activity testing after 8 cycles in the photocatalytic experiments. [Display omitted] •Conjugated microporous polymer-containing membranes were prepared by phase inversion•Photocatalytic membrane showed a successful chemical-free degradation of pollutants•Photocatalytic membrane exhibited good long-term recyclability