Polyvinylidene fluoride membrane functionalized with zero valent iron for highly efficient degradation of organic contaminants

[Display omitted] •A catalytic PVDF membrane functionalized with zero valent iron was fabricated.•Membrane active surfaces generate much •OH radicals through decomposition of H2O2.•The membrane exhibits excellent degradation performance for toxic organics.•Our catalytic membrane shows high regeneration ability after four consecutive cycles. A hierarchical polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane functionalized with catalytic zero valent iron nanoparticles via polydopamine/polyethyleneimine was successfully fabricated. The catalytic membrane exhibited excellent degradation performance for toxic 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), Rhodamine B (RB), and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2-CP). With a trace amount of H2O2 flowing over the surface of the catalytic membrane, highly active sites were monitored. The active surfaces generated a large amount of •OH radicals via decomposition of H2O2. The radicals unselectively oxidized a wide range of recalcitrant organic pollutants. Specifically, ~ 80% RB and almost 100% 4-NP and 2-CP were degraded within 30 min in aqueous solutions. Furthermore, total organic carbon analysis revealed that recalcitrant RB, 4-NP and 2-CP molecules could be partially mineralized into carbon dioxide and water inside the membrane. The degradation mechanism was related to a Fenton-like reaction. The catalytic membrane showed high regeneration ability with approximately 100% activity retention after four consecutive use cycles.