Novel Heterostructured Holey Graphene-NiTiO3/TiO2 Nanocomposite Enabled Photocatalytic Mixed Matrix Membranes for Effective Antibiotics Removal

Antibiotics are widely used in healthcare, agriculture, and animal husbandry, contributing to their increased presence in water sources through wastewater, agricultural runoff, and improper disposal. This leads to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and poses risks to both ecosystems and human health. Hospital wastewater, in particular, contains antibiotics, amplifying these threats. Photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs), which combine photocatalysis and membrane filtration, offer a promising solution to address this issue. This study focuses on synthesizing HGN-NiTiO₃/TiO₂ nanocomposites by integrating NiTiO₃/TiO₂ with holey graphene (HGN). These nanocomposites demonstrate effective photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics when exposed to light. Additionally, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were developed using varying HGN-NiTiO₃/TiO₂ loadings to optimize the membranes’ performance. The membranes showed an asymmetric porous structure, enhancing water flux, antifouling properties, and photocatalytic efficiency. The best results were achieved with a 2 wt.% HGN-NiTiO₃/TiO₂ membrane, demonstrating excellent antifouling and antibiotic degradation performance. Hybrid ultrafiltration membranes with self-cleaning and photocatalytic properties were also fabricated using the optimal nanocomposite, showing effective self-cleaning ability and enhanced photocatalytic efficiency in decomposing antibiotic solutions. These findings highlight the potential of HGN-NiTiO₃/TiO₂-based membranes in PMRs for effective hospital wastewater treatment and antibiotic removal.