Hierarchical microsphere encapsulated in graphene oxide composite for durable synergetic membrane separation and Fenton-like degradation.

[Display omitted] • A novel MOFs derived Fenton-like catalyst was successfully fabricated. • Both radical and nonradical species have been involved in the catalytic process. • The composite membrane provides a confined environment for the reaction. • The composite membrane can effectively treat various types of organic pollutants. As a typical advanced oxidation process, persulfate-based heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction has gained widespread attention in removing persistent harmful organic pollutants via the generation of reactive radicals. Nevertheless, persulfate having an inefficient decomposition of the target contaminants and common powdery counterparts causing secondary pollution. Herein, we first design and fabricate a novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived cobalt-carbon based heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst (Co@NCNT-MS) with hierarchical structure, the systematic characterization demonstrated that powder catalysts were successfully prepared and the catalyst possessed a favorable degradation capacity of tetracycline (TC), which could be contributed by its particular hierarchical urchin-like structure with abundant active sites and that both radical (·SO 4 −, ·OH, and ·O 2 −) and nonradical (1O 2) species have been involved in the process. Then, this hierarchical heterogeneous catalyst was encapsulated in Graphene oxide (GO) by facile vacuum filtration to form a robust composite membrane. And the obtained membrane shows good application prospects as it exhibits excellent separation and catalytic degradation properties in removal of anionic dye, cationic dye, and persistent refractory tetracycline. It is speculated that these excellent results could be primarily attributed to the domain effect of micro-nano channels in the membrane on low-life active components, pollutions, and PMS. More than that, the as-prepared membrane displayed excellent stability with continuous removal of TC with high efficiency above 90% and a steady flux around 40 L·m−2·h−1 under 24 h sequential filtration mode. It is promising that this membrane could potentially be used for effectually treating complex wastewater systems with persistent organic contaminants in environmental pollution cleaning up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]