New Membrane Turns Oxygen Into Powerful Wastewater Cleanser

A team at Hong Kong Baptist University, led by Professor Jun Zhao, has created a catalytic membrane that could transform water purification by targeting persistent phenolic pollutants—toxic compounds from industrial and agricultural sources that resist breakdown and accumulate in organisms.

Their NGCF-OV membrane combines nitrogen-doped graphene oxide with cobalt ferrite materials. Its asymmetric cobalt-oxygen sites create highly reactive singlet oxygen that instantly breaks down pollutants, while graphitic nitrogen sites concentrate contaminants for efficient destruction. The process requires no hazardous chemicals or external energy.

Results are impressive: complete degradation of bisphenol A within 86 milliseconds. The membrane shows promise for treating various organic pollutants, including antibiotics, pesticides, and industrial dyes.

The research, published in Advanced Functional Materials with Dr Jian Ye as first author, involved collaborators from Jiangsu University and the University of Adelaide.