Integrated On-Site Electrocatalytic H₂O₂ Synthesis and Membrane Catalysis for Sustainable High-Salinity Wastewater...

On-site hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) generation from wastewater and its direct utilization for pollutant degradation provide a sustainable, low-carbon strategy for treating high-salinity effluents. Here, we innovatively propose an integrated electrocatalytic-nanofiltration platform that couples in situ H₂O₂ production with catalytic membrane separation, enabling simultaneous oxidation and desalination while avoiding external H₂O₂ or electrolyte addition. We first fabricated a binder-free, oxygen-functionalized carbon nanotube/Ni electrode exhibiting high activity and selectivity toward H₂O₂ generation and achieving a high H₂O₂ concentration of up to 0.8 g·L^-1 from real high-salinity wastewater. By coupling the electrolytic system with an efficient catalytic nanofiltration membrane, a synergistic electro-membrane process was established. Further scale-up of electrode and membrane modules enabled the development of an integrated platform that achieved up to 90% chemical oxygen demand removal and 98% sulfate ion retention in real pharmaceutical wastewater. Life-cycle assessment further revealed 34% lower carbon emissions and 36% reduced operational costs compared with conventional processes, underscoring the sustainability of this approach. Overall, this study demonstrates a practical and environmentally friendly strategy that integrates electrocatalytic H₂O₂ generation with membrane catalysis, advancing low-carbon and resource-efficient technologies for advanced purification and water reuse of high-salinity wastewater.