Copper oxide(I) nanoparticle-modified cellulose acetate membranes with enhanced antibacterial and antifouling properties.

Cellulose acetate membranes exhibit a potential to be applied in hemodialysis. However, their performance is limited by membrane fouling and a lack of antibacterial properties. In this research, copper oxide (I) nanoparticles were fabricated in situ into a cellulose acetate matrix in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (pore-forming agent) and sulfobetaine (stabilising agent) to reduce the leakage of copper ions from nano-enhanced membranes. The influence of nanoparticles on the membrane structure and their antibacterial and antifouling properties were investigated. The results showed that incorporating Cu2O NPs imparted significant antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and fouling resistance under physiological conditions. The Cu2O NPs-modified membrane could pave the way for potential dialysis applications.

Incorporation of carbon black into a sonogel matrix: improving antifouling properties of a conducting polymer ceramic nanocomposite.

A new electrochemical sensor device has been developed through the modification of a polyaniline-silicon oxide network with carbon black (CB). Enhanced electrical conductivity and antifouling properties have been achieved due to the integration of this cheap nanomaterial into the bulk of the sensor. The structure of the developed material was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize electrochemically the Sonogel-Carbon/Carbon Black-PANI (SNG-C/CB-PANI) sensor device. In addition, differential pulse voltammetry was employed to evaluate the analytical response of the sensor towards sundry chlorophenols, common environmental hazards in aqueous ecosystems. The modified sensor material showed excellent antifouling properties, which led to a better electroanalytical performance than the one displayed with the bare sensor. Notably, a sensitivity of 5.48 × 103 µA mM-1 cm-2 and a limit of detection of 0.83 µM were obtained in the determination of 4-chloro-3-methylphenol (PCMC) at a working potential of 0.78 V (vs. 3 M Ag/AgCl/KCl), along with proficient values of reproducibility and repeatability (relative standard deviation < 3%). Finally, the analysis of PCMC was carried out in multiple validated water samples using the synthesized SNG-C/CB-PANI sensor device, obtaining excellent results of recovery values (97-104%). The synergetic effect of polyaniline and carbon black leads to novel antifouling and electrocatalytic effects that improve the applicability of this sensor in sample analysis versus complex conventional devices.

Bio-Inspired Antibacterial Hydrogel Adhesives with High Adhesion Strength.

Traditional adhesives such as cyanoacrylate glue are mostly solvent-based. They are facing the problem of insufficient adhesion to some substrates, and also from the drawback of volatilization and release of small organic molecules in the process of usage. Therefore, a novel adhesive with non-irritating, high adhesive strength, and antibacterial properties is highly required. In this study, a full physically crosslinked zwitterionic poly(betaine sulfonate methacrylate) (PSBMA) hydrogel is proposed. The physical crosslinking interactions endow the hydrogel with good self-healing properties. Furthermore, the pure physical crosslinking hydrogel can form PSBMA powder adhesive after lyophilization and return to the hydrogel state after hydration. The mechanical properties of PSBMA adhesive can be modulated via adjusting the solid content and initiator dosage. Following the cure process similar to that of snail mucus or insect exoskeletons in nature, the adhesion of the PSBMA adhesive is improved at least 100 times than its wet state. In addition, the PSBMA adhesive is easy to be removed due to the dissociation of cross-linked structures in saltwater environments. Moreover, PSBMA adhesive with antifouling properties can effectively prevent the adhesion of proteins and bacteria, which shows potential applications in the assembly of medical devices.

Superhydrophilic polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with high scale inhibition properties obtained through bionic mineralization and RTIPS.

Reverse thermally induced separation (RTIPS) was used to obtain a separation membrane with a better internal structure for a higher water flux and a surface that could easily form a hydration layer. In comparison to the traditional modification method, this work focused on the aspect that the internal structure obtained by changing the membrane-making method provided easier adhesion conditions for the dopamine/TiO2 hybrid nanoparticles (DA/TiO2 HNPs) obtained by biomimetic mineralization. It provided a basis for exploring the variation in adhesion with the water bath temperature and the amount of titanium added through the study of turbidity point, SEM images, water contact angle, thermogravimetric test, EDX, AFM, XPS, FTIR and other test results. The SEM images proved that the membrane obtained through the RTIPS method had a porous surface and spongy internal structure, furthermore, additional polymers were adsorbed. Use of EDX demonstrated that biomimetic mineralization prevented the production of agglomerated titanium dioxide. XPS and FTIR spectra confirmed the introduction and immobilization of HNP aggregation. Moreover, a decrease in the surface roughness and water contact angle further suggested an improvement in the hydrophilicity of the modified membrane. The introduction of HNP at a higher water bath temperature helped increase the water flux up to ten times, moreover, the oil-water separation efficiency could still reach over 99.50%. Lastly, a cycle test of the modified membrane under the optimal conditions helped confirm that the membrane forming conditions at this time could provide a better environment for the formation of the hydrophilic layer, which was conducive to the recycling of the separation membrane. In summary, more fixed more hydrophilic particles could be obtained through the RTIPS method based on biomimetic mineralization to prevent the accumulation of titanium dioxide, thus helping improve permeability and anti-fouling of the membrane.

Fluorescent Noble Metal Nanoclusters Loaded Protein Hydrogel Exhibiting Anti-Biofouling and Self-Healing Properties for Electrochemiluminescence Biosensing Applications.

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) showed great potential in various analytical applications, especially in the sensing of biotargets, taking advantage of its high sensitivity, selectivity, ease of spatial and temporal control, and simplified optical setup. However, during the sensing of complex biological samples, ECL sensors often suffered severe interferences from unavoidable nonspecific-binding of biomacromolecules and physical damages of ECL sensing interfaces. Herein, a hydrogel based ECL biosensing system exhibiting excellent anti-biofouling and self-healing properties is developed. A protein hydrogel composed of bovine serum albumin (BSA) directed fluorescent Au/Ag alloy nanoclusters (Au/Ag NCs) is applied in building ECL sensing systems. The hydrogel matrix facilitates the immobilization of fluorescent Au/Ag NCs as excellent ECL probes, and the porous hydrophilic structure allows the free diffusion of small molecular biotargets while rejecting macromolecular interferences. Moreover, the hydrogel exhibits excellent self-healing property, with the ECL intensity recovered rapidly in 10 min after cutting. The hydrogel ECL system is successfully applied in sensing glutathione (GSH) in serum, confirming the applicability of the hydrogel based anti-biofouling ECL sensing system in sensing complex biological samples. This research may inspire the development of novel anti-biofouling and self-healing ECL biosensors for biosensing applications.

Modification of polyvinylidene fluoride membrane with ciprofloxacin to improve the bacteriostatic performance.

The common polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane itself is susceptible to membrane fouling, especially biofouling, which is a serious threat. In this study, PVDF membrane was modified with ciprofloxacin (CIP) through co-blending to investigate the filtration properties, bacterial inhibition and fouling resistance. Modified membranes were prepared by adding 0.3 g (MC0.3), 0.6 g (MC0.6), 0.9 g (MC0.9) and 1.2 g (MC1.2) CIP per 100 g casting solution. Among these modified membranes, MC0.6 showed the best filtration performances, with the pure water flux stabilized at about 416.67 L/(m2·h) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection of 92.0% at a trans-membrane pressure of 0.1 MPa. The pore size was reduced, the average roughness was reduced to 29.4 nm, the contact angle was lowered to 68.9°, and the hydrophilicity was greatly improved. The width of the inhibition circle produced by MC0.6 was 0.35-0.45 mm, and the modified membrane showed good inhibition of non-specific bacteria and algal removal during urban river water filtration. The rejection of BSA was increased by 16.32% compared to the base membrane and the adsorption rate for BSA was reduced by 68.45%. In addition, the removal of conventional pollutants in urban river water by the modified membranes for was also improved. Compared with that of the base membrane, the removal of TN, NH3-N, TP and COD by MC0.6 was increased by 10.58%, 12.45%, 15.44% and 13.53%. The results showed that CIP co-blending modified PVDF membrane could effectively improve membrane performances and has good value for water treatment.

Optimized antifouling γ-Al2O3/α-Al2O3 nanofiltration composite membrane for lignin recovery from wastewater.

This study focuses on the development of nanofiltration (NF) membranes with enhanced antifouling properties, high flux, and low molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) for the separation of lignin from paper mill wastewater. Using a sol-gel method by dip-coating, alumina hollow fiber membranes were fabricated with an interlayer to reduce surface roughness. The interlayer improved mechanical properties, effectively covering the surface irregularities and allowing for the subsequent application of a thinner functional layer. This approach significantly reduced surface roughness, from 112.6 nm to 62.9 nm, enhancing contamination resistance and lifetime. Characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and water contact angle measurements, confirmed the successful fabrication and enhanced properties of the membranes. The C2T6T3 membrane demonstrated the smallest roughness and the highest flux recovery rate (FRR) of 82.39% after cleaning with a 0.1 M NaOH solution. Performance evaluations showed that the developed membranes maintained high permeability (initial flux of 25.58 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹, decreasing to 14.06 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ over time), achieved effective lignin rejection (consistently above 80%), and exhibited excellent long-term operational stability over 144 h of operation.

Modification of PAN electrospun nanofiber membranes with g-C3N4 nanotubes/carbon dots to enhance MBR performance.

This study is dedicated to the enhancement of electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber membranes for their application in membrane bioreactor (MBR) processes. The improvement is achieved through the incorporation of graphitic carbon nitride nanotubes/carbon dots (g-C3N4 NT/CDs) and subsequent heat post-treatments at varying temperatures. Notably, the hot-pressing methodology effectively mitigates surface roughness and significantly reduces issues related to peeling during nanofiber experimentation. Our results demonstrate that the introduction of 0.5 wt% of g-C3N4 NT/CDs leads to a substantial enhancement in water flux. In particular, nanocomposite membranes subjected to hot-pressing at 90 °C for 10 min exhibited an impressive flux recovery ratio (FRR) of 70%. Furthermore, the heat-treated nanocomposite membranes exhibited remarkable antifouling properties and significantly reduced fouling rates when compared to their heat-treated bare counterparts. This study underscores the noteworthy potential of g-C3N4 NT/CDs-modified PAN nanofiber membranes to substantially elevate MBR performance, firmly positioning them as highly promising candidates for critical applications in the domains of water and wastewater treatment. However, it is imperative to underscore that the existing written material necessitates a comprehensive overhaul to align with the provided structural framework.

Biofouling mitigation of Nb2AlC and Mo3AlC2 MXene-precursors doped polyether sulfone mixed matrix membranes for pathogen microorganisms.

This study explores the incorporation of Nb2AlC and Mo3AlC2 MAX phases, known for their nano-layered structure, into polyether sulfone (PES) membranes to enhance their antifouling and permeability properties for pathogen microorganism filtration against bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The composite membranes were characterized for their structural and morphological properties, and their performance in mitigating biofouling was evaluated. The structural characterizations have been performed for all the prepared MAX phases and corresponding composite membranes. The antioxidant ability of Nb2AlC and Mo3AlC2 MAX phases was defined by the DPPH radical scavenging assay, and the highest antioxidant ability was found to be 59.35 %, while 53.69 % scavenging potential was recorded at 100 mg/L. The percentage scavenging ability was raised with an increase in concentrations. The antimicrobial properties of MAX phases, evaluated as the minimum inhibitory concentration, were stated against several pathogen microorganisms. The tested compounds of Nb2AlC and Mo3AlC2 composites containing MAX phases exhibited excellent chemical nuclease activity, and it was determined that Nb2AlC caused double strand DNA cleavage activity while Mo3AlC2 induced the complete fragmentation of the DNA molecule. Biofilm inhibition of Nb2AlC and Mo3AlC2 MAX phases was studied against Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the maximum biofilm inhibition of Nb2AlC and Mo3AlC2 MAX phases was found to be 77.15 % and 69.07 % against S. aureus and also 69.74 % and 65.01 % against P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, Nb2AlC and Mo3AlC2 MAX phases demonstrated excellent E. coli growth inhibition of 100 % at 125 and 250 mg/L.

Design, fabrication, and applications of bioinspired slippery surfaces.

Bioinspired slippery surfaces (BSSs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their antifouling, drag reduction, and self-cleaning properties. Accordingly, various technical terms have been proposed for describing BSSs based on specific surface characteristics. However, the terminology can often be confusing, with similar-sounding terms having different meanings. Additionally, some terms fail to fully or accurately describe BSS characteristics, such as the surface wettability of lubricants (hydrophilic or hydrophobic), surface wettability anisotropy (anisotropic or isotropic), and substrate morphology (porous or smooth). Therefore, a timely and thorough review is required to clarify and distinguish the various terms used in BSS literature. This review initially categorizes BSSs into four types: slippery solid surfaces (SSSs), slippery liquid-infused surfaces (SLISs), slippery liquid-like surfaces (SLLSs), and slippery liquid-solid surfaces (SLSSs). Because SLISs have been the primary research focus in this field, we thoroughly review their design and fabrication principles, which can also be applied to the other three types of BSS. Furthermore, we discuss the existing BSS fabrication methods, smart BSS systems, antifouling applications, limitations of BSS, and future research directions. By providing comprehensive and accurate definitions of various BSS types, this review aims to assist researchers in conveying their results more clearly and gaining a better understanding of the literature.

Antifouling improvement in Pb2+ ion selective electrodes by using an environmentally friendly capsaicin derivative.

Biofouling is a critical issue for ion selective electrodes (ISE) in complex aqueous systems, seriously compromising the analytical performance of the electrodes (i.e., stability, sensitivity, and lifetime). Herein, an antifouling solid lead ion selective electrode (GC/PANI-PFOA/Pb2+-PISM) was successfully prepared by adding propyl 2-(acrylamidomethyl)-3,4,5-trihydroxy benzoate (PAMTB), an environmentally friendly capsaicin derivative, into the ion-selective membrane (ISM). The presence of PAMTB caused no loss in the detection performance of GC/PANI-PFOA/Pb2+-PISM (e.g., detection limit (1.9 × 10-7 M), response slope (28.5 ± 0.8 mV/decade), the response time (20 s), stability (8.6 ± 2.9 µV/s), selectivity and no water layer), whilst imparting an excellent antifouling effect with an antibacterial rate of 98.1% when the content of PAMTB in the ISM was 2.5 wt%. Further, GC/PANI-PFOA/Pb2+-PISM maintained stable antifouling properties, excellent potential response, and stability even after soaking in a high-concentration bacterial suspension for 7 days.

Composite Anion Exchange Membranes Based on Quaternary Ammonium-Functionalized Polystyrene and Cerium(IV) Phosphate with Improved Monovalent-Ion Selectivity and Antifouling Properties.

The possibility of targeted change of the properties of ion exchange membranes by incorporation of various nanoparticles into the membranes is attracting the attention of many research groups. Here we studied for the first time the influence of cerium phosphate nanoparticles on the physicochemical and transport properties of commercial anion exchange membranes based on quaternary ammonium-functionalized polystyrenes, such as heterogeneous Ralex® AM and pseudo-homogeneous Neosepta® AMX. The incorporation of cerium phosphate on one side of the membrane was performed by precipitation from absorbed cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) anionic complex with ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or phosphoric acid. The structures of the obtained hybrid membranes and separately synthesized cerium phosphate were investigated using FTIR, P31 MAS NMR, EDX mapping, and scanning electron microscopy. The modification increased the membrane selectivity to monovalent ions in the ED desalination of an equimolar mixture of NaCl and Na2SO4. The highest selectivities of Ralex® AM and Neosepta® AMX-based hybrid membranes were 4.9 and 7.7, respectively. In addition, the modification of Neosepta® membranes also increased the resistance to a typical anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate.

Graphene-Coated PVDF Membranes: Effects of Multi-Scale Rough Structure on Membrane Distillation Performance.

Graphene-coated membranes for membrane distillation have been fabricated by using a wet-filtration approach. Graphene nanoplatelets have been deposited onto PVDF membrane surfaces. Morphology and physicochemical properties have been explored to evaluate the changes in the surface topography and related effects on the membrane performance in water desalination. The membranes have been tested in membrane distillation plants by using mixtures of sodium chloride and humic acid. The multi-scale rough structure of the surface has been envisaged to amplify the wetting and fouling resistance of the graphene-coated membranes so that a better flux and full salt rejection have been achieved in comparison with pristine PVDF. Total salt rejection and an increase of 77% in flux have been observed for coated membrane with optimized graphene content when worked with NaCl 0.6 M (DCMD, ΔT ≈ 24 °C) over a test period of 6 h. The experimental findings suggest these novel graphene-coated membranes as promising materials to develop functional membranes for high-performing water desalination.

In Situ Generation of Fouling Resistant Ag/Pd Modified PES Membranes for Treatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewater.

In this study, Ag and Pd bimetallic nanoparticles were generated in situ in polyethersulfone (PES) dope solutions, and membranes were fabricated through a phase inversion method. The membranes were characterized for various physical and chemical properties using techniques such as FTIR, SEM, AFM, TEM, EDS, and contact angle measurements. The membranes were then evaluated for their efficiency in rejecting EOCs and resistance to protein fouling. TEM micrographs showed uniform distribution of Ag/Pd nanoparticles within the PES matrix, while SEM images showed uniform, fingerlike structures that were not affected by the presence of embedded nanoparticles. The presence of Ag/Pd nanoparticles resulted in rougher membranes. There was an increase in membrane hydrophilicity with increasing nanoparticles loading, which resulted in improved pure water permeability (37−135 Lm2h−1bar−1). The membranes exhibited poor salt rejection (<15%), making them less susceptible to flux decline due to concentration polarization. With a mean pore radius of 2.39−4.70 nm, the membranes effectively removed carbamazepine, caffeine, sulfamethoxazole, ibuprofen, and naproxen (up to 40%), with size exclusion being the major removal mechanism. Modifying the membranes with Ag/Pd nanoparticles improved their antifouling properties, making them a promising innovation for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.

3D Printed Metal Oxide-Polymer Composite Materials for Antifouling Applications.

Current technology to prevent biofouling usually relies on the use of toxic, biocide-containing materials, which can become a serious threat to marine ecosystems, affecting both targeted and nontargeted organisms. Therefore, the development of broad-spectrum, less toxic antifouling materials is a challenge for researchers; such materials would be quite important in applications like aquaculture. In this respect, surface chemistry, physical properties, durability and attachment scheme can play a vital role in the performance of the materials. In this work, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)/micro ZnO or nano ZnO composite lattices with different metal oxide contents were developed using 3D printing. Their antifouling behavior was examined with respect to aquaculture applications by monitoring growth on them of the diatoms Navicula sp. and the monocellular algae Chlorella sp. with image analysis techniques. As shown, the presence of metal oxides in the composite materials can bring about antifouling ability at particular concentrations. The present study showed promising results, but further improvements are needed.

Fouling Prevention in Polymeric Membranes by Radiation Induced Graft Copolymerization.

The application of membrane processes in various fields has now undergone accelerated developments, despite the presence of some hurdles impacting the process efficiency. Fouling is arguably the main hindrance for a wider implementation of polymeric membranes, particularly in pressure-driven membrane processes, causing higher costs of energy, operation, and maintenance. Radiation induced graft copolymerization (RIGC) is a powerful versatile technique for covalently imparting selected chemical functionalities to membranes' surfaces, providing a potential solution to fouling problems. This article aims to systematically review the progress in modifications of polymeric membranes by RIGC of polar monomers onto membranes using various low- and high-energy radiation sources (UV, plasma, γ-rays, and electron beam) for fouling prevention. The feasibility of the modification method with respect to physico-chemical and antifouling properties of the membrane is discussed. Furthermore, the major challenges to the modified membranes in terms of sustainability are outlined and the future research directions are also highlighted. It is expected that this review would attract the attention of membrane developers, users, researchers, and scientists to appreciate the merits of using RIGC for modifying polymeric membranes to mitigate the fouling issue, increase membrane lifespan, and enhance the membrane system efficiency.

Development of Ti2AlN MAX phase/cellulose acetate nanocomposite membrane for removal of dye, protein and lead ions.

To our knowledge, this study was carried out because there is no other study using Ti2AlN MAX phase material as an inorganic additive to improve the performance of the cellulose acetate (CA) membrane. In this research, the effect of titanium aluminum nitride (Ti2AlN) MAX phase on the performance of CA polymeric membrane was investigated. In the first step, the Ti2AlN MAX phase was synthesized via the reactive sintering method and characterized. The Successful synthesis of the MAX phase with high purity in the hexagonal crystalline structure was confirmed with the XRD pattern. The prepared MAX phase was used as a hydrophilic inorganic additive to improve the performance of the CA membrane. An improvement in hydrophilicity of the CA membranes was observed by incorporating the MAX phase into the matrix of membranes. The nanocomposite membrane containing optimum content of MAX phase (0.75 wt%) showed a threefold increase in permeability during filtration of pure water and dye solutions. In addition, the optimum nanocomposite membrane exhibited an improved flux recovery ratio of 92.7 % with a high removal efficiency of 70.7 % for reactive black 5, 93.5 % for reactive red 120, and >98 % for bovine serum albumin. Finally, the rejection of different salts was investigated, and the optimum nanocomposite showed high rejection for lead ions (97 %) with moderate rejection for Na2SO4 (>55 %) and NaCl (>30 %). The results of this research demonstrated the high potential of MAX phase-based materials for improving polymeric membranes.

In Situ Chemical Modification with Zwitterionic Copolymers of Nanofiltration Membranes: Cure for the Trade-Off between Filtration and Antifouling Performance.

Breaking the trade-off between filtration performance and antifouling property is critical to enabling a thin-film nanocomposite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membrane for a wide range of feed streams. We proposed a novel design route for TFC NF membranes by grafting well-defined zwitterionic copolymers of [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (SBMA) and 2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride (AEMA) on the polyamide surfaces via an in situ surface chemical modification process. The successful grafting of a zwitterionic copolymer imparted the modified NF membranes with better surface hydrophilicity, a larger actual surface area (i.e., nodular structures), and a thinner polyamide layer. As a result, the water permeability of the modified membrane (i.e., TFC-10) was triple that of the pristine TFC membrane while maintaining high Na2SO4 rejection. We further demonstrated that the TFC-10 membrane possessed exceptional antifouling properties in both static adsorption tests and three cycles of dynamic protein and humic acid fouling tests. To recap, this work provides valuable insights and strategies for the fabrication of TFC NF membranes with simultaneously enhanced filtration performance and antifouling property.

Printable Resin Modified by Grafted Silver Nanoparticles for Preparation of Antifouling Microstructures with Antibacterial Effect.

The usage of three-dimensional (3D) printed materials in many bioapplications has been one of the fastest-growing sectors in the nanobiomaterial industry in the last couple of years. In this work, we present a chemical approach for grafting silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into a resin matrix, which is convenient for 3D printing. In this way, the samples can be prepared and are able to release silver ions (Ag+) with excellent antibacterial effect against bacterial strains of E. coli and S. epidermidis. By the proposed process, the AgNPs are perfectly mixed and involved in the polymerization process and their distribution in the matrix is homogenous. It was also demonstrated that this approach does not affect the printing resolution and the resin is therefore suitable for the construction of microstructures enabling controlled silver ion release and antifouling properties. At the same time the physical properties of the material, such as viscosity and elasticity modulus are preserved. The described approach can be used for the fabrication of facile, low-cost 3D printed resin with antifouling-antibacterial properties with the possibility to control the release of Ag+ through microstructuring.

Photocatalytic study of nanocomposite membrane modified by CeF3 catalyst for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.

Cerium fluoride (CeF3) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and applied in polysulfone (PS) membrane fabricated by phase inversion method. The produced nanocomposite membranes (PS/CeF3) with different contents of CeF3 NPS (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% w/w) were used to treat pharmaceutical wastewaters. The membranes were characterized by FESEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, porosity, and water contact angle analyses. Evaluation of the characteristics and performance of the nanocomposite membranes confirmed that utilizing photocatalytic CeF3 NPs in membrane structure could effectively decompose organic contaminants in pharmaceutical wastewaters. It also improves the hydrophilicity and antifouling ability of membrane during filtration especially, in the presence of UV irradiation. The permeate flux of the PS membrane increased from 35.1 to 63.77 l/m2h by embedding 0.75% of CeF3 NPs in membrane structure due to the porosity enhancement from 71.36-78.42% and the decrease in contact angle from 62.9º to 53.73º. Moreover, the flux decline of PS/CeF3-0.75% membrane under UV irradiation was from 63.6 to 46.1 l/m2h that considerably lower than that of the neat PS membrane (from 34.7 to 4.9). On the other hand, the degradation efficiency of PS/CeF3-0.75% membrane was more than 97%, and COD removed was more than 65% while they were 75% and 31%, respectively for the nascent PS membrane. Therefore, applying the appropriate amount of CeF3 NPs in PS membranes not only greatly increased the permeate flux but also significantly enhanced the degradation efficiency and COD removal. This indicates that nanocomposite membranes can be confidently applied for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment UV irradiation.