Fabrication of a high-performance MXene-ATP composite membrane: enhancing flux and retention for dye wastewater treatment.

In order to overcome the poor mechanical properties and low permeation flux of MXene nanosheets, as well as the easy agglomeration and limited adsorption capacity of attapulgite (ATP), a composite membrane material (Fe-Co/MXene-ATP) was prepared by vacuum filtration method, of which ATP was inserted into the stacking layers of MXene and bimetallic oxides were loaded as active substances. Through a series of characterization and experiments, it was proved that MXene-ATP composite membrane was achieved, and Fe and Co oxides were successfully loaded on it. The membrane material was used to remove methylene blue (MB). Under the optimal experimental conditions, the removal ratio of MB can reach over 90%, the MB flux is 1.94 mL· cm-2·min-1. The removal mechanisms of Fe-Co/MXene-ATP membrane materials for MB were clarified through comparative experiments and free radical capture, and their mechanisms mainly included MXene-ATP bifunctional substrate for synergistic bimetallic catalysis, the MXene confinement effect enhancing catalytic efficiency and stability, and the "adsorption-catalysis-filtration" trinity dynamic removal mechanism. LC-MS was employed to identify the intermediate products generated during MB degradation, and the potential degradation pathways were subsequently deduced.