Recent progresses on fabrication of photocatalytic membranes for water treatment

Compared to conventional separation membranes, photocatalytic membranes possess a number of unique properties, such as anti-fouling, anti-microbial, superhydrophilicity, concurrent photocatalytic oxidation and separation, all of which make them an attractive technology in water treatment. Moreover, the problem of photocatalyst separation which is the main obstacle of photocatalysis processes can be resolved by the photocatalytic membranes thereby advancing their practical application. This article presents an overview of this new type of membrane, with a focus on recent progresses achieved on their fabrication methods. Based on membrane materials, they are broadly categorized into pure inorganic and inorganic-polymer hybrid membranes. The fabrication methods are separately reviewed and discussed for these two membrane categories. In addition, future perspectives on membrane development and feasibility are given. The paper would provide new insights into the development of photocatalytic membranes and their potential in water treatment. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.