Impact of ceramic membrane pore size and metal oxide modifications on pharmaceutical degradation in a Hybrid Ozonation–Membrane Filtration reactor

This study investigates the integration of catalytic ozonation with membrane filtration using ceramic membranes to enhance pharmaceutical’s removal. Ceramic membranes with four MWCOs and pore size (50 kDa, 150 kDa, 300 kDa, and 200 nm) were modified via a sol-gel vacuum infiltration method with CeO₂, CeTiO x , and a dual-layer CeO₂+CeTiO x coating to promote ozone activation and hydroxyl radical ( ● OH) generation. Continuous-flow Hybrid Ozonation–Membrane Filtration (HOMF) experiments demonstrated that dual-layer modifications significantly enhanced degradation rates of carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and pCBA, with lower MWCO membranes exhibiting higher adsorption and retention. Scavenger tests using tert‑butanol confirmed the critical role of ● OH, while SEM, AFM, XRD, and MIP characterization revealed substantial changes in surface morphology and pore structure. This study is the first to systematically examine the interactions between ultrafiltration and microfiltration ceramic membranes with varying MWCO and tailored surface modifications, providing novel insights for optimizing catalytic ozonation for pharmaceutical degradation in water treatment. • Dual-layer CeO 2 +CeTiO x modifications improve catalytic performance by enhancing hydroxyl radical generation for better pharmaceutical degradation. • Lower MWCO membranes (50 kDa and 150 kDa) achieve higher degradation efficiency through increased adsorption and retention. • SEM, AFM, and MIP analyses confirm that metal oxide coatings alter pore structure and surface roughness, impacting permeability. • Scavenger experiments verify that hydroxyl radicals drive degradation, proposing the design of efficient hybrid ozonation–membrane filtration systems.