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Review

Engineering Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Applications

1
Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
2
Weihai Research Institute of Industrial Technology of Shandong University, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
3
State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
4
School of Electrical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
5
The Key Laboratory for Surface Engineering and Remanufacturing in Shaanxi Province, School of Chemical Engineering, Xi’an University, Xi’an 710065, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 947; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100947
Submission received: 29 August 2025 / Revised: 24 September 2025 / Accepted: 30 September 2025 / Published: 2 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Catalysis for Green Future)

Abstract

Photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs), which combine photocatalysis with membrane separation, represent a pivotal technology for sustainable water treatment and resource recovery. Although extensive research has documented various configurations of photocatalytic-membrane hybrid processes and their potential in water treatment applications, a comprehensive analysis of the interrelationships among reactor architectures, intrinsic physicochemical mechanisms, and overall process efficiency remains inadequately explored. This knowledge gap hinders the rational design of highly efficient and stable reactor systems—a shortcoming that this review seeks to remedy. Here, we critically examine the connections between reactor configurations, design principles, and cutting-edge applications to outline future research directions. We analyze the evolution of reactor architectures, relevant reaction kinetics, and key operational parameters that inform rational design, linking these fundamentals to recent advances in solar-driven hydrogen production, CO2 conversion, and industrial scaling. Our analysis reveals a significant disconnect between the mechanistic understanding of reactor operation and the system-level performance required for innovative applications. This gap between theory and practice is particularly evident in efforts to translate laboratory success into robust and economically feasible industrial-scale operations. We believe that PMRs will realize their transformative potential in sustainable energy and environmental applications in future.
Keywords: photocatalyst; membrane; reactors; water treatment; reaction kinetics photocatalyst; membrane; reactors; water treatment; reaction kinetics
Graphical Abstract

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MDPI and ACS Style

Xu, R.; Qin, S.; Lu, T.; Wang, S.; Chen, J.; He, Z. Engineering Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Applications. Catalysts 2025, 15, 947. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100947

AMA Style

Xu R, Qin S, Lu T, Wang S, Chen J, He Z. Engineering Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Applications. Catalysts. 2025; 15(10):947. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100947

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xu, Ruofan, Shumeng Qin, Tianguang Lu, Sen Wang, Jing Chen, and Zuoli He. 2025. "Engineering Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Applications" Catalysts 15, no. 10: 947. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100947

APA Style

Xu, R., Qin, S., Lu, T., Wang, S., Chen, J., & He, Z. (2025). Engineering Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Applications. Catalysts, 15(10), 947. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100947

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