A GO-TiO2 membrane was fabricated using a layer-by-layer method to assemble graphene oxide (GO) on a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support, interconnecting GO nanosheets with polyethylenimine (PEI). The surfaces of the GO nanosheets were modified by depositing titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on them using an ethanol/ultraviolet (UV) post-treatment, that enhanced their photocatalytic and self-cleaning properties. The GO-TiO2 membrane showed good photocatalytic performance with a 58.8% removal rate of methylene blue (MB) under UV for 250 min. The self-cleaning properties were illustrated via the flux recovery by UV irradiation and the effect of UV irradiation before membrane filtration. The experimental results indicated that the J/J(0) ratio of the GO-TiO2 membrane increased from 41% to 54% after the fouled membrane was exposed to UV irradiation for 30 min. When UV irradiated the GO-TiO2 membrane for 40 min prior to filtration, the flux increased from 1.67 to 1.88 L/m(2).h. This may be a result of the photo -induced superhydrophilicity of TiO2. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers.