Ceramic membranes have attracted considerable attention for the treatment of complex industrial wastewater due to their 

superior thermal stability, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance. However, their practical application remains constrained

by membrane fouling and the inherent permeability-selectivity trade-off, and insufficient coupling between separation

and catalytic reactions. Surface modification has emerged as a key design strategy to address these challenges by 

regulating pore structure, tuning interfacial physicochemical properties, and introducing catalytic active sites. This review 

systematically summarizes recent advances in material selection, substrate design, and surface modification strategies 

for catalytic ceramic membranes, with emphasis on coating technologies, elemental doping, in situ growth, and surface 

grafting. The underlying mechanisms of these methods in regulating pore size, wettability, and catalytic functionality are 

critically discussed. In addition, a multiscale computational framework is introduced to elucidate the coupling among 

structure, mass transport, and interfacial reactions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to describe macroscopic 

flow behavior and pollutant transport, while density functional theory (DFT) provides insights into microscopic reaction 

pathways. Furthermore, the engineering feasibility of catalytic ceramic membranes is systematically evaluated from life 

cycle and techno-economic perspectives. Overall, this review highlights that future progress should shift from empirical 

modification toward mechanism-guided, cross-scale, and sustainability-oriented membrane design. Future research should 

focus on strengthening multiscale model coupling, improving long-term catalytic stability, and developing low-carbon, 

scalable fabrication strategies, thereby bridging the gap between mechanistic understanding and practical implementation 

of catalytic ceramic membranes.