Activated carbon adsorption enhanced removal of organic contaminants using a catalytic ceramic membrane with peroxymonosulfate activation

Granular activated carbon (GAC) was respectively loaded into catalytic ceramic membrane channels (MG₁) and connected at the rear end of the catalytic ceramic membrane (MG₂) to improve the removal of emerging contaminants via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. Compared to the catalytic ceramic membrane system (M_Co-Mn/PMS) without GAC coupling, the MG₁/PMS and MG₂/PMS systems demonstrated complete bisphenol A (BPA) removal within 5 min, with total organic carbon (TOC) removal rates increasing to 66% and 73%, respectively, and exhibited exceptional stability. Quenching experiments revealed that the MG₁/PMS and MG₂/PMS systems involved hybrid radical pathways involving HVMO and SO₄˙^-. Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis identified 6 and 5 transformation intermediates through two distinct pathways, respectively, indicating that the overall toxicity of the degradation intermediates was reduced, as confirmed by toxicity analysis. Fitting of the composite pollution model showed that the M_Co-Mn/PMS system exhibited significant antifouling ability, and the membrane fouling mechanism was mainly based on intermediate standard blockage.