Photocatalytic Cleanability of ZnO-Decorated Ceramic Membranes for Rhodamine B Removal

) under UV irradiation (365 nm, 18 W) for 180 min, achieving degradation efficiencies of 83.0%, 94.6%, and 99.1% for M1, M2, and M3, respectively. The degradation kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model, with rate constants increasing with catalyst layer thickness. Free radical scavenging assays confirmed that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) were the primary reactive species responsible for RhB degradation. These findings highlight the critical influence of ZnO layer thickness and mass transfer on photocatalytic performance, demonstrating the potential of ZnO-coated ceramic membranes for efficient pollutant degradation and in situ photocatalytic regeneration. Permeability measurements after photocatalytic treatment confirmed effective flux recovery, supporting the operational durability of the developed membranes.