An Overlapped Nano-Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ Composite Coating on Activated Carbon Fiber Membrane with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance.

Treatment of high concentration organic wastewater has always been a difficult problem in the field of water purification due to its high cost, low efficiency, long processing cycle and possible second pollution. An overlapped nano-Fe₂O₃/TiO₂@activated carbon fiber membrane composite was successfully prepared by hydrothermal loading method. Nano-rod-like TiO₂ and columnar Fe₂O₃ polyhedrals overlapped and formed a composite coating on the surface of activated carbon fiber membrane. This composite can absorb visible light and successfully remove the high concentration Congo red pollutant (400 mg/L) in 24 h. The enhanced photocatalytic performance should be attributed to the synergistic reaction of nano-Fe₂O₃ and nano-TiO₂, which improves the separation of photo-generated electrons and holes thus enhances the photocatalytic efficiency. This multifunctional fiber membrane is expected to be widely applied in various organic wastewater treatments.