Synergy between Photocatalysis and Ultrafiltration: An Innovative Approach for Water Depollution

Iron pillaring of mineral clay particles was carried out for catalyst preparation used in the removal of humic substances from aqueous solution. The present study explores firstly the efficiency of photocatalytic oxidation of humic acids (HA), which are typical refractory components of Natural Organic Matter (NOM). Ultrafiltration (UF) has become one of the best alternatives replacing conventional drinking water treatment technologies because of severe regulations for drinking water quality. However, membrane fouling is an important factor which limits its widespread application. The successful operation of a hybrid photocatalysis–membrane separation process is proved at the laboratory scale for degradation of Humic Acids (HA). The global process removal efficiency (comprising both HA oxidation and UF membrane rejection) is higher than conventional UF, as a result of the synergistic effects of both photocatalytic oxidation and membrane filtration.