Researchers have developed an electro-filtration membrane that removes nearly 100% of ammonia nitrogen from wastewater in just over a minute while also breaking down organic contaminants. The membrane, made of ruthenium and lead dioxide, generates chlorine oxide radicals in situ to oxidize pollutants into harmless nitrogen gas. In tests, it achieved 99.6% total nitrogen removal and 68% reduction in chemical oxygen demand over 70 hours of continuous operation, without needing added chemical precursors. The technology could simplify wastewater treatment by combining denitrification and decarbonization in one step, reducing the need for multiple stages. The system works best at current density of 20 mA/cm² and with chloride ions present, making it suitable for hypersaline industrial effluents. While the results are promising, questions remain about energy consumption per liter and long-term membrane durability, which will determine whether it scales beyond the lab.
