TiO2 based photocatalytic membranes: A review

• Photocatalysis and types of TiO2 photocatalytic membranes were introduced.
• The methods for the fabrication of TiO2 photocatalytic membranes were reviewed.
• The characterizations of photocatalytic membranes were highlighted.
• The performance of membranes was compared in terms of pollutant removal.
• The reaction kinetics and operation parameters were discussed.

Photocatalytic membranes have shown great potential for use in energy-efficient water purification and wastewater treatment since they combine the physical separation of membrane filtration, and the organic degradation and anti-bacterial property achieved by photocatalysis in a single unit. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the most commonly used material for fabrication of photocatalytic membranes due to its low cost, non-toxicity and high chemical stability. This paper reviews recent progress in the TiO2 photocatalytic membranes for wastewater treatment and water purification with an emphasis on the type of membranes, membrane fabrication and characterization, and applications in disinfection and pollutant removal.