Multifunctional Membrane for Dyes Removal and Pathogen Inactivation in Textile Effluent

Abstract

Water pollution has become a global health threat. According to WHO estimates, unsafe water is responsible for approximately 1.4–3.5 million deaths annually. Microbial pollutants and resistant organic dyes are frequently not successfully removed by conventional wastewater treatment methods. In addition, coliform bacterial pollution can turn water into a vector for disease transmission, increase organic and nutrient loads, and accelerate antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, to overcome these problems, we present the synthesis of a new copper‐metal‐ion‐based co‐crystal (CuCoXtal), which exhibits the ability to reduce dyes and 99% antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. When exposed to UV light, this cocrystal shows exceptional photocatalytic activity, efficiently degrading a range of dyes from textile effluents, including methylene blue, methyl orange, trypan blue, and congo red. At pH 8.5, degradation efficiency increases significantly, indicating that alkaline media generate more reactive oxygen species (ROS), than neutral (pH 7) or acidic (pH 5.5) conditions. Furthermore, a CuCoAXtal@PAM polyamide membrane was successfully fabricated and degraded methylene blue under UV light within 30 min. In addition to its photocatalytic activity, the fabricated membrane serves as an advanced wastewater treatment material that degrades dyes, disinfects, and detoxifies wastewater in a single step.