Treatment of secondary effluent by sequential combination of photocatalytic oxidation with ceramic membrane filtration.

Science.gov (United States)

Song, Lili; Zhu, Bo; Jegatheesan, Veeriah; Gray, Stephen; Duke, Mikel; Muthukumaran, Shobha

2018-02-01

The aim of the present work was to experimentally evaluate an alternative advanced wastewater treatment system, which combines the action of photocatalytic oxidation with ceramic membrane filtration. Experiments were carried out using laboratory scale TiO 2 /UV photocatalytic reactor and tubular ceramic microfiltration (CMF) system to treat the secondary effluent (SE). A 100-nm pore size CMF membrane was investigated in cross flow mode under constant transmembrane pressure of 20 kPa. The results show that specific flux decline of CMF membrane with and without TiO 2 /UV photocatalytic treatment was 30 and 50%, respectively, after 60 min of filtration. Data evaluation revealed that the adsorption of organic compounds onto the TiO 2 particles was dependent on the pH of the suspension and was considerably higher at low pH. The liquid chromatography-organic carbon detector (LC-OCD) technique was used to characterise the dissolved organic matter (DOM) present in the SE and was monitored following photocatalysis and CMF. The results showed that there was no removal of biopolymers and slight removal of humics, building blocks and the other oxidation by-products after TiO 2 /UV photocatalytic treatment. This result suggested that the various ions present in the SE act as scavengers, which considerably decrease the efficiency of the photocatalytic oxidation reactions. On the other hand, the CMF was effective for removing 50% of biopolymers with no further removal of other organic components after photocatalytic treatment. Thus, the quantity of biopolymers in SE has an apparent correlation with the filterability of water samples in CMF.

A study on the photocatalytic decomposition reactions of organics dissolved in water (II)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sung, K. W.; Na, J. W.; Cho, Y. H.; Chung, H. H.

2001-01-01

Experiments on aqueous TiO 2 photocatalytic reaction characteristics of 4 nitrogen-containing and 12 aromatic organic compounds were carried out. Based on the values calculated for the distribution of ionic species and atomic charge, the characteristics of their photocatalytic decomposition were estimated. It was shown that the dependence of decomposition of the N-containing compounds were linearly proportional to their nitrogen atomic charge values, while that of the aromatic compounds were inversely proportional. The effects of aqueous pH, oxygen content and concentration on the TiO 2 photocatalytic characteristics of EDTA-Cu(II) and EDTA-Fe(III) were experimentally investigated. All EDTA systems were decomposed better in the pH range of 2.5∼3.0 and with more dissolved oxygen. These results could be applied to a unit process for removal of organic impurities dissolved in a source water of the system water, and for treatment of EDTA-containing liquid waste produced by chemical cleaning process in the domestic NPPs

A study on the photocatalytic decomposition reactions of organics dissolved in water (II)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sung, K. W.; Na, J. W.; Cho, Y. H.; Chung, H. H

2001-01-01

Experiments on aqueous TiO{sup 2} photocatalytic reaction characteristics of 4 nitrogen-containing and 12 aromatic organic compounds were carried out. Based on the values calculated for the distribution of ionic species and atomic charge, the characteristics of their photocatalytic decomposition were estimated. It was shown that the dependence of decomposition of the N-containing compounds were linearly proportional to their nitrogen atomic charge values, while that of the aromatic compounds were inversely proportional. The effects of aqueous pH, oxygen content and concentration on the TiO{sup 2} photocatalytic characteristics of EDTA-Cu(II) and EDTA-Fe(III) were experimentally investigated. All EDTA systems were decomposed better in the pH range of 2.5{approx}3.0 and with more dissolved oxygen. These results could be applied to a unit process for removal of organic impurities dissolved in a source water of the system water, and for treatment of EDTA-containing liquid waste produced by chemical cleaning process in the domestic NPPs.

Tantalum nitride for photocatalytic water splitting: concept and applications

KAUST Repository

Nurlaela, Ela

2016-10-12

Along with many other solar energy conversion processes, research on photocatalytic water splitting to generate hydrogen and oxygen has experienced rapid major development over the past years. Developing an efficient visible-light-responsive photocatalyst has been one of the targets of such research efforts. In this regard, nitride materials, particularly Ta3N5, have been the subject of investigation due to their promising properties. This review focuses on the fundamental parameters involved in the photocatalytic processes targeting overall water splitting using Ta3N5 as a model photocatalyst. The discussion primarily focuses on relevant parameters that are involved in photon absorption, exciton separation, carrier diffusion, carrier transport, catalytic efficiency, and mass transfer of the reactants. An overview of collaborative experimental and theoretical approaches to achieve efficient photocatalytic water splitting using Ta3N5 is discussed.

Tantalum nitride for photocatalytic water splitting: concept and applications

KAUST Repository

Nurlaela, Ela; Ziani, Ahmed; Takanabe, Kazuhiro

2016-01-01

Along with many other solar energy conversion processes, research on photocatalytic water splitting to generate hydrogen and oxygen has experienced rapid major development over the past years. Developing an efficient visible-light-responsive photocatalyst has been one of the targets of such research efforts. In this regard, nitride materials, particularly Ta3N5, have been the subject of investigation due to their promising properties. This review focuses on the fundamental parameters involved in the photocatalytic processes targeting overall water splitting using Ta3N5 as a model photocatalyst. The discussion primarily focuses on relevant parameters that are involved in photon absorption, exciton separation, carrier diffusion, carrier transport, catalytic efficiency, and mass transfer of the reactants. An overview of collaborative experimental and theoretical approaches to achieve efficient photocatalytic water splitting using Ta3N5 is discussed.

Alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment for TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles with superior water-dispersibility and visible-light photocatalytic activity

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wu, Chung-Yi; Tu, Kuan-Ju; Lo, Yu-Shiu [Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, College of Nuclear Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan (China); Pang, Yean Ling [Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000 Kajang, Selangor (Malaysia); Wu, Chien-Hou, E-mail: chwu@mx.nthu.edu.tw [Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, College of Nuclear Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan (China)

2016-09-15

Alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment was proposed as a simple and green way to improve the performance of commercial TiO{sub 2} powder for water-dispersibility and visible-light photocatalytic activity on the degradation of dye pollutants. The performance of treated TiO{sub 2} was evaluated as a function of NaOH concentration, H{sub 2}O{sub 2} concentration, and treatment time. The optimal conditions were determined to be 24 h in 100 mM H{sub 2}O{sub 2} and 8 M NaOH. The treated samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry. The analysis revealed that the crystal structure, morphology, and absorption band gap were retained, but the surface of the treated TiO{sub 2} was dramatically changed. The treated TiO{sub 2} was highly dispersible with a uniform hydrodynamic size of 41 ± 12 nm and stable over months in water at pH 3 without any stabilizing ligand and could significantly enhance the visible-light photodegradation of dye pollutants. The superior performance might be attributed to the formation of abundant surface hydroxyl groups. This treatment paves the way for developing water-dispersible TiO{sub 2} with superior visible-light induced photocatalytic degradation of dye pollutants without any complicated and expensive surface modification. - Highlights: • Alkaline hydrogen peroxide is proposed to treat commercial TiO{sub 2} powder. • The treated TiO{sub 2} powder exhibits superior water-dispersibility with a uniform size distribution. • The treated TiO{sub 2} powder can significantly enhance the visible-light photodegradation of dyes.

Cuprous oxide created on sepiolite: Preparation, characterization, and photocatalytic activity in treatment of red water from 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene manufacturing

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhu, Qingwei; Zhang, Yihe; Lv, Fengzhu; Chu, Paul K.; Ye, Zhengfan; Zhou, Fengshan

2012-01-01

Highlights: ► Cu 2 O crystals were firstly created on the natural sepiolite fibers. ► The structures of the sepiolite are altered when acidized, benefiting the immobility of cuprous oxide crystals. ► The carrier sepiolite improves efficiently the photocatalytic activity of cuprous oxide crystals. ► Cu 2 O/sepiolite composites show superior photocatalytic activity for the degradation of red water. - Abstract: Cuprous oxide is firstly created on acidized sepiolite (AS) by a simple deposition method for photocatalytic degradation of the red water produced from 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) manufacturing. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection absorptive spectroscopy (UV–vis/DRS), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy are used to characterize the photocatalyst composites. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is employed to determine the organic constituents in the red water. The results show that the cuprous oxide particles can be immobilized on the surface of the AS fibers and the structure of the AS is altered when cuprous oxide interacts with AS via chemical reactions besides physical adsorption. The AS improves the optical properties of cuprous oxide and red-shifts the band gap thereby enhancing the utilization of visible light. The Cu 2 O/AS composites demonstrate excellent photocatalytic performance in the degradation of red water. 87.0% of red water can be photocatalytically degraded by Cu 2 O/AS after illumined for 5 h and a majority of organic components of red water except 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene were degraded according to GC–MS analysis.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Chlorobenzene by TiO2 in High-Temperature and High-Pressure Water

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

N. Kometani

2008-01-01

Full Text Available A fluidized-bed-type flow reactor available for the photocatalytic treatment of the suspension of model soil under high-temperature, high-pressure conditions was designed. An aqueous suspension containing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 as an oxidizer and inorganic oxides as a model soil, titania (TiO2, silica (SiO2, or kaoline (Al2Si2O5(OH4 was continuously fed into the reactor with the temperature and the pressure controlled to be T=20–400∘C and P = 30 MPa, respectively. The degradation of chlorobenzene (CB in water was chosen as a model oxidation reaction. It appeared that most of the model soils are not so harmful to the SCWO treatment of CB in solutions. When the TiO2 suspension containing H2O2 was irradiated with near-UV light, the promotion of the degradation caused by photocatalytic actions of TiO2 was observed at all temperatures. Persistence of the photocatalytic activity in the oxidation reaction in high-temperature, high-pressure water would open up a possibility of the development of the hybrid process based on the combination of SCWO process and TiO2 photocatalysis for the treatment of environmental pollutants in soil and water, which are difficult to handle by conventional SCWO process or catalytic SCWO process alone.

Advanced oxidation technologies : photocatalytic treatment of wastewater

OpenAIRE

Chen, J.

1997-01-01

7.1. Summary and conclusions

The last two decennia have shown a growing interest in the photocatalytic treatment of wastewater, and more and more research has been carried out into the various aspects of photocatalysis, varying from highly fundamental aspects to practical application. However, despite all this research, there is still much to investigate. Suggested photocatalytic mechanisms, such as those for oxidation by hydroxyl radicals and for oxidation at the surface of photocata...

Photocatalytic ozonation under visible light for the remediation of water effluents and its integration with an electro-membrane bioreactor.

Science.gov (United States)

Toledano Garcia, Diego; Ozer, Lütfiye Y; Parrino, Francesco; Ahmed, Menatalla; Brudecki, Grzegorz Przemyslaw; Hasan, Shadi W; Palmisano, Giovanni

2018-06-06

Photocatalysis and photocatalytic ozonation under visible light have been applied for the purification of a complex aqueous matrix such as the grey water of Masdar City (UAE), by using N-doped brookite-rutile catalysts. Preliminary runs on 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) solutions allowed to test the reaction system in the presence of a model pollutant and to afford the relevant kinetic parameters of the process. Subsequently, the remediation of grey water effluent has been evaluated in terms of the reduction of total organic carbon (TOC) and bacterial counts. The concentration of the most abundant inorganic ionic species in the effluent has been also monitored during reaction. Photocatalytic ozonation under visible light allowed to reduce the TOC content of the grey water by ca. 60% in the optimized experimental conditions and to reduce the total bacterial count by ca. 97%. The extent of TOC mineralization reached ca. 80% when the photocatalytic ozonation occurred downstream to a preliminary electro-membrane bioreactor (eMBR). Coupling the two processes enhanced the global efficiency. In fact, the eMBR treatment lowered the turbidity and the organic load of the effluent entering the photocatalytic ozonation treatment, which in turn enhanced the extent of purification and disinfection. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of TiO{sub 2} Surface Properties on Water Pollution Treatment and Photocatalytic Activity

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zeng, Min [Southwest Univ. of Science and Technology, Mianyang (China)

2013-03-15

The titania surface showed different characteristics depending on the charge of the dye molecules. Compared with the MB molecules, the negatively charged MO molecules strongly adsorbed on the titania surface. Furthermore, the decomposition kinetics of the dye molecules by the photocatalytic activity also deepened with the charge of the dye molecules. The relation between the UV irradiation time and the molar ratio of the decomposed dye molecules followed the Avrami equation. According to the results of the analysis by using the Avrami equation, the MO molecules were decomposed on the titania particle surface. In contrast, the MB molecules were decomposed in the aqueous solution. The difference in kinetics was related to the interaction of the dye molecules and the titania surface. These preferential adsorption and decomposition characteristics will improve its applications in water pollution treatment.

Photocatalytic efficiency of titania photocatalysts in saline waters

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Albrbar Asma Juma

2014-01-01

Full Text Available The photocatalytic efficiency of the recently synthesized TiO2 powder, named P160, of the degradation of dye Dye C.I. Reactive orange 16 in natural and artificial seawater was investigated in comparison to its efficiency in deionized water and the efficiency of a standard TiO2 powder Degusa P25. It was shown that the photocatalytic efficiency of P160 was slightly higher than that of P25, probably due to slightly higher specific surface area, higher pore volume and larger pores of the powder P160. The efficiency of both photocatalysts in natural and artificial seawater was significantly lower than that in deionized water. The overall rate of dye degradation for both types of photocatalysts is litle higher in artificial seawater than in natural seawater, which shows the influence of organic compounds naturally present in seawater on the photocatalysts activity. A saturation Langmuir-type relationship between the initial degradation rate and the initial dye concentration indicates that the adsorption plays a role in the photocatalytic reaction. The photodegradation rate constant k, which represents the maximum reaction rate, has similar values for P25 and P160 in all types of water due to the similar properties of the photocatalysts. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br III 45019

Photocatalytic water splitting: Quantitative approaches toward photocatalysis by design

KAUST Repository

Takanabe, Kazuhiro

2017-10-11

A widely used term, “photocatalysis”, generally addresses photocatalytic (energetically down-hill) and photosynthetic (energetically up-hill) reactions and refers to the use of photonic energy as a driving force for chemical transformations, i.e., electron reorganization to form/break chemical bonds. Although there are many such important reactions, this contribution focuses on the fundamental aspects of photocatalytic water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen by using light from the solar spectrum, which is one of the most investigated photosynthetic reactions. Photocatalytic water splitting using solar energy is considered to be artificial photosynthesis that produces a solar fuel because the reaction mimics nature’s photosynthesis not only in its redox reaction type but also in its thermodynamics (water splitting: 1.23 eV vs. glucose formation: 1.24 eV). To achieve efficient photocatalytic water splitting, all of the parameters, though involved at different timescales and spatial resolutions, should be optimized because the overall efficiency is obtained as the multiplication of all these fundamental efficiencies. The purpose of this review article is to provide the guidelines of a concept, “photocatalysis by design”, which is the opposite of “black box screening”; this concept refers to making quantitative descriptions of the associated physical and chemical properties to determine which events/parameters have the most impact on improving the overall photocatalytic performance, in contrast to arbitrarily ranking different photocatalyst materials. First, the properties that can be quantitatively measured or calculated are identified. Second, the quantities of these identified properties are determined by performing adequate measurements and/or calculations. Third, the obtained values of these properties are integrated into equations so that the kinetic/energetic bottlenecks of specific properties/processes can be determined, and the properties can

Photocatalytic water splitting: Quantitative approaches toward photocatalysis by design

KAUST Repository

Takanabe, Kazuhiro

2017-01-01

A widely used term, “photocatalysis”, generally addresses photocatalytic (energetically down-hill) and photosynthetic (energetically up-hill) reactions and refers to the use of photonic energy as a driving force for chemical transformations, i.e., electron reorganization to form/break chemical bonds. Although there are many such important reactions, this contribution focuses on the fundamental aspects of photocatalytic water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen by using light from the solar spectrum, which is one of the most investigated photosynthetic reactions. Photocatalytic water splitting using solar energy is considered to be artificial photosynthesis that produces a solar fuel because the reaction mimics nature’s photosynthesis not only in its redox reaction type but also in its thermodynamics (water splitting: 1.23 eV vs. glucose formation: 1.24 eV). To achieve efficient photocatalytic water splitting, all of the parameters, though involved at different timescales and spatial resolutions, should be optimized because the overall efficiency is obtained as the multiplication of all these fundamental efficiencies. The purpose of this review article is to provide the guidelines of a concept, “photocatalysis by design”, which is the opposite of “black box screening”; this concept refers to making quantitative descriptions of the associated physical and chemical properties to determine which events/parameters have the most impact on improving the overall photocatalytic performance, in contrast to arbitrarily ranking different photocatalyst materials. First, the properties that can be quantitatively measured or calculated are identified. Second, the quantities of these identified properties are determined by performing adequate measurements and/or calculations. Third, the obtained values of these properties are integrated into equations so that the kinetic/energetic bottlenecks of specific properties/processes can be determined, and the properties can

Double-side active TiO{sub 2}-modified nanofiltration membranes in continuous flow photocatalytic reactors for effective water purification

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Romanos, G.Em., E-mail: groman@chem.demokritos.gr [Institute of Physical Chemistry, NCSR Demokritos, 153 10 Agia Paraskevi Attikis, Athens (Greece); Athanasekou, C.P.; Katsaros, F.K.; Kanellopoulos, N.K. [Institute of Physical Chemistry, NCSR Demokritos, 153 10 Agia Paraskevi Attikis, Athens (Greece); Dionysiou, D.D. [Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0071 (United States); Likodimos, V.; Falaras, P. [Institute of Physical Chemistry, NCSR Demokritos, 153 10 Agia Paraskevi Attikis, Athens (Greece)

2012-04-15

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A novel CVD reactor for the developments of double side active TiO{sub 2} membranes. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Double side active TiO{sub 2} membranes efficiently photodegrade organic pollutants. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A photocatalytic membrane purification device for continuous flow water treatment. - Abstract: A chemical vapour deposition (CVD) based innovative approach was applied with the purpose to develop composite TiO{sub 2} photocatalytic nanofiltration (NF) membranes. The method involved pyrolytic decomposition of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) vapor and formation of TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles through homogeneous gas phase reactions and aggregation of the produced intermediate species. The grown nanoparticles diffused and deposited on the surface of {gamma}-alumina NF membrane tubes. The CVD reactor allowed for online monitoring of the carrier gas permeability during the treatment, providing a first insight on the pore efficiency and thickness of the formed photocatalytic layers. In addition, the thin TiO{sub 2} deposits were developed on both membrane sides without sacrificing the high yield rates. Important innovation was also introduced in what concerns the photocatalytic performance evaluation. The membrane efficiency to photo degrade typical water pollutants, was evaluated in a continuous flow water purification device, applying UV irradiation on both membrane sides. The developed composite NF membranes were highly efficient in the decomposition of methyl orange exhibiting low adsorption-fouling tendency and high water permeability.

Solar photocatalytic cleaning of polluted water

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bockelmann, D.

1994-01-01

Alternatively to biological, physical and chemical methods of waste water cleaning, photocatalysis can be employed. In this residue-free method, titanium dioxide particles are brought into contact with polluted water as photocatalysts. Under UV irradiation at wave-lengths below 400 nm, change carriers are generated in the semiconductor particles that act so intensely oxidizing as to completely degrade almost all organic pollutants in waste water. In this process, the ultra-violet part of the solar spectrum can be harnessed to generate oxidation equivalents. Thus, solar photocatalytic waste water cleaning is excellently suited for developing countries. (BWI) [de

Photocatalytic Water-Splitting Reaction from Catalytic and Kinetic Perspectives

KAUST Repository

Hisatomi, Takashi; Takanabe, Kazuhiro; Domen, Kazunari

2014-01-01

Abstract: Some particulate semiconductors loaded with nanoparticulate catalysts exhibit photocatalytic activity for the water-splitting reaction. The photocatalysis is distinct from the thermal catalysis because photocatalysis involves photophysical

Development of solar-driven electrochemical and photocatalytic water treatment system using a boron-doped diamond electrode and TiO2 photocatalyst.

Science.gov (United States)

Ochiai, Tsuyoshi; Nakata, Kazuya; Murakami, Taketoshi; Fujishima, Akira; Yao, Yanyan; Tryk, Donald A; Kubota, Yoshinobu

2010-02-01

A high-performance, environmentally friendly water treatment system was developed. The system consists mainly of an electrochemical and a photocatalytic oxidation unit, with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode and TiO(2) photocatalyst, respectively. All electric power for the mechanical systems and the electrolysis was able to be provided by photovoltaic cells. Thus, this system is totally driven by solar energy. The treatment ability of the electrolysis and photocatalysis units was investigated by phenol degradation kinetics. An observed rate constant of 5.1 x 10(-3)dm(3)cm(-2)h(-1) was calculated by pseudo-first-order kinetic analysis for the electrolysis, and a Langmuir-Hinshelwood rate constant of 5.6 microM(-1)min(-1) was calculated by kinetic analysis of the photocatalysis. According to previous reports, these values are sufficient for the mineralization of phenol. In a treatment test of river water samples, large amounts of chemical and biological contaminants were totally wet-incinerated by the system. This system could provide 12L/day of drinking water from the Tama River using only solar energy. Therefore, this system may be useful for supplying drinking water during a disaster. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanocrystals and Nanoclusters as Cocatalysts for Photocatalytic Water Splitting

KAUST Repository

Sinatra, Lutfan

2016-12-04

The energy consumptions worldwide have increased simultaneously with the growth of the population and of the economy. Nowadays, finding an alternative way to satisfy the energy demand is one of the great challenges for the future of humanity, especially due to the limitation of fossil fuels and their effect on global warming. Hydrogen, as an alternative fuel for the future, is very attractive. Compared to traditional methods, such as the steam reforming of natural gas or coal gasification, photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) is considered to be the most sustainable alternative for producing hydrogen as a future fuel. PWS usually relies on semiconductor material that can transform the absorbed solar photon into photogenerated electrons and holes, creating a photopotential which can drive the electrochemical production of molecular hydrogen from the reduction of water. Despite its promising application, semiconductor-based PWS usually suffers from low carrier mobility and short diffusion length. Furthermore, the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes might occur, especially if there are no suitable reaction sites available on the surface of the semiconductor. In order to facilitate the catalytic reactions on the surface of the semiconductor, the presence of a cocatalyst is necessary in order to obtain more efficient PWS processes. To this day, noble metals such as Pt, Pd, RuO2 and IrO2 are still the benchmark cocatalysts for PWS. Nevertheless, due to their high cost and limited supply, it is mandatory to develop a suitable strategy and to identify more efficient materials. Therefore, within the framework of this dissertation, novel cocatalysts and strategies that can improve the efficiency of the photocatalytic water splitting processes have been developed. Firstly, we developed a cocatalyst combining noble metals and semiconductors by means of partial galvanic replacement of the Cu2O nanocrystal with Au. The deposition of this cocatalyst on TiO2 was

Applications of Photocatalytic Disinfection

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Joanne Gamage

2010-01-01

Full Text Available Due to the superior ability of photocatalysis to inactivate a wide range of harmful microorganisms, it is being examined as a viable alternative to traditional disinfection methods such as chlorination, which can produce harmful byproducts. Photocatalysis is a versatile and effective process that can be adapted for use in many applications for disinfection in both air and water matrices. Additionally, photocatalytic surfaces are being developed and tested for use in the context of “self-disinfecting” materials. Studies on the photocatalytic technique for disinfection demonstrate this process to have potential for widespread applications in indoor air and environmental health, biological, and medical applications, laboratory and hospital applications, pharmaceutical and food industry, plant protection applications, wastewater and effluents treatment, and drinking water disinfection. Studies on photocatalytic disinfection using a variety of techniques and test organisms are reviewed, with an emphasis on the end-use application of developed technologies and methods.

Photocatalytic treatment of bioaerosols: impact of the reactor design.

Science.gov (United States)

Josset, Sébastien; Taranto, Jérôme; Keller, Nicolas; Keller, Valérie; Lett, Marie-Claire

2010-04-01

Comparing the UV-A photocatalytic treatment of bioaerosols contaminated with different airborne microorganisms such as L. pneumophila bacteria, T2 bacteriophage viruses and B. atrophaeus bacterial spores, pointed out a decontamination sensitivity following the bacteria > virus > bacterial spore ranking order, differing from that obtained for liquid-phase or surface UV-A photocatalytic disinfection. First-principles CFD investigation applied to a model annular photoreactor evidenced that larger the microorganism size, higher the hit probability with the photocatalytic surfaces. Applied to a commercial photocatalytic purifier case-study, the CFD calculations showed that the performances of the studied purifier could strongly benefit from rational reactor design engineering. The results obtained highlighted the required necessity to specifically investigate the removal of airborne microorganisms in terms of reactor design, and not to simply transpose the results obtained from studies performed toward chemical pollutants, especially for a successful commercial implementation of air decontamination photoreactors. This illustrated the importance of the aerodynamics in air decontamination, directly resulting from the microorganism morphology.

Photocatalytic and Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting by Inorganic Materials

KAUST Repository

Deng, Xiaohui

2012-12-01

Hydrogen has been identified as a potential energy carrier due to its high energy capacity and environmental harmlessness. Compared with hydrogen production from hydrocarbons such as methane and naphtha in a conventional hydrogen energy system, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water splitting offers a more economic approach since it utilizes the abundant solar irradiation as energy source and water as initial reactant. Powder photocatalyst, which generates electrons and holes under illumination, is the origin where the overall reaction happens. High solar energy conversion efficiency especially from visible range is commonly the target. Besides, cocatalyst for hydrogen and oxygen evolution is also playing an essential role in facilitating the charge separation and enhancing the kinetics. In this thesis, the objective is to achieve high energy conversion efficiency towards water splitting from diverse aspects. The third chapter focuses on a controllable method to fabricate metal pattern, which is candidate for hydrogen evolution cocatalyst while chapter 4 is on the combination of strontium titanium oxide (SrTiO3) with graphene oxide (GO) for a better photocatalytic performance. In the last chapter, photoelectrochemical water splitting by Ta3N5 photoanode and FeOOH as a novel oxygen evolution cocatalyst has been investigated.

Treatment of wastewater dyeing agent by photocatalytic process in solar reactor

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

O. Zahraa

2006-01-01

Full Text Available The photocatalytic decolorization of industrial textile dyes has been studied. The treatment was carried out on a solar reactor consisting in a flat active plane, tilted so as to face the sun and to allow the trickling of the water to be treated. Alternatively the reactor could be irradiated by an artificial source. After checking the system using salicylic acid, a conventional model molecule, the photocatalytic decolorization of Orange II, Yellow Drimarene, and Black Drimarene dyes was investigated. Artificial and solar irradiation gave comparable results although the heating by the sun reduced the amount of adsorption. The kinetics agrees with the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and a discrepancy between adsorption constants deduced from the kinetic and adsorption experiments was interpreted by considering various types of adsorption sites. Orange II and Drimarene dyes decolorization kinetics are opposite limiting cases of the above model, as being of order 0 and 1 with respect to the dye, respectively.

Advanced oxidation technologies : photocatalytic treatment of wastewater

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Chen, J.

1997-01-01

7.1. Summary and conclusions

The last two decennia have shown a growing interest in the photocatalytic treatment of wastewater, and more and more research has been carried out into the various aspects of photocatalysis, varying from highly fundamental aspects to practical application.

Enhanced photocatalytic CO₂-reduction activity of electrospun mesoporous TiO₂ nanofibers by solvothermal treatment.

Science.gov (United States)

Fu, Junwei; Cao, Shaowen; Yu, Jiaguo; Low, Jingxiang; Lei, Yongpeng

2014-06-28

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into renewable hydrocarbon fuels using semiconductor photocatalysts is considered as a potential solution to the energy deficiency and greenhouse effect. In this work, mesoporous TiO2 nanofibers with high specific surface areas and abundant surface hydroxyl groups are prepared using an electrospinning strategy combined with a subsequent calcination process, followed by a solvothermal treatment. The solvothermally treated mesoporous TiO2 nanofibers exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance on CO2 reduction into hydrocarbon fuels. The significantly improved photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the enhanced CO2 adsorption capacity and the improved charge separation after solvothermal treatment. The highest activity is achieved for the sample with a 2-h solvothermal treatment, showing 6- and 25-fold higher CH4 production rate than those of TiO2 nanofibers without solvothermal treatment and P25, respectively. This work may also provide a prototype for studying the effect of solvothermal treatment on the structure and photocatalytic activity of semiconductor photocatalysts.

Photocatalytic Nanofiltration Membranes with Self-Cleaning Property for Wastewater Treatment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lv, Yan [MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, and Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027 China; Zhang, Chao [MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, and Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027 China; He, Ai [MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, and Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027 China; Yang, Shang-Jin [MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, and Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027 China; Wu, Guang-Peng [MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, and Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027 China; Darling, Seth B. [Nanoscience & Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue Lemont IL 60439 USA; Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago IL 60637 USA; Xu, Zhi-Kang [MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, and Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027 China

2017-05-16

Membrane fouling is one of the most severe problems restricting membrane separation technology for wastewater treatment. This work reports a photocatalytic nanofiltration membrane (NFM) with self-cleaning property fabricated using a facile biomimetic mineralization process. In this strategy, a polydopamine (PDA)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) intermediate layer is fabricated on an ultrafiltration membrane via a co-deposition method followed by mineralization of a photocatalytic layer consisting of beta-FeOOH nanorods. The PDA-PEI layer acts both as a nanofiltration selective layer and an intermediate layer for anchoring the beta-FeOOH nanorods via strong coordination complexes between Fe3+ and catechol groups. In visible light, the beta-(F)eOOH layer exhibits efficient photocatalytic activity for degrading dyes through the photo-Fenton reaction in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, endowing the NFM concurrently with effective nanofiltration performance and self-cleaning capability. Moreover, the mineralized NFMs exhibit satisfactory stability under simultaneous filtration and photocatalysis processing, showing great potential in advanced wastewater treatment.

Photophysics and electrochemistry relevant to photocatalytic water splitting involved at solid–electrolyte interfaces

KAUST Repository

Shinagawa, Tatsuya

2016-08-04

Direct photon to chemical energy conversion using semiconductor-electrocatalyst-electrolyte interfaces has been extensively investigated for more than a half century. Many studies have focused on screening materials for efficient photocatalysis. Photocatalytic efficiency has been improved during this period but is not sufficient for industrial commercialization. Detailed elucidation on the photocatalytic water splitting process leads to consecutive six reaction steps with the fundamental parameters involved: The photocatalysis is initiated involving photophysics derived from various semiconductor properties (1: photon absorption, 2: exciton separation). The generated charge carriers need to be transferred to surfaces effectively utilizing the interfaces (3: carrier diffusion, 4: carrier transport). Consequently, electrocatalysis finishes the process by producing products on the surface (5: catalytic efficiency, 6: mass transfer of reactants and products). Successful photocatalytic water splitting requires the enhancement of efficiency at each stage. Most critically, a fundamental understanding of the interfacial phenomena is highly desired for establishing "photocatalysis by design" concepts, where the kinetic bottleneck within a process is identified by further improving the specific properties of photocatalytic materials as opposed to blind material screening. Theoretical modeling using the identified quantitative parameters can effectively predict the theoretically attainable photon-conversion yields. This article provides an overview of the state-of-the-art theoretical understanding of interfacial problems mainly developed in our laboratory. Photocatalytic water splitting (especially hydrogen evolution on metal surfaces) was selected as a topic, and the photophysical and electrochemical processes that occur at semiconductor-metal, semiconductor-electrolyte and metal-electrolyte interfaces are discussed.

Dye-Sensitized Photocatalytic Water Splitting and Sacrificial Hydrogen Generation: Current Status and Future Prospects

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Pankaj Chowdhury

2017-05-01

Full Text Available Today, global warming and green energy are important topics of discussion for every intellectual gathering all over the world. The only sustainable solution to these problems is the use of solar energy and storing it as hydrogen fuel. Photocatalytic and photo-electrochemical water splitting and sacrificial hydrogen generation show a promise for future energy generation from renewable water and sunlight. This article mainly reviews the current research progress on photocatalytic and photo-electrochemical systems focusing on dye-sensitized overall water splitting and sacrificial hydrogen generation. An overview of significant parameters including dyes, sacrificial agents, modified photocatalysts and co-catalysts are provided. Also, the significance of statistical analysis as an effective tool for a systematic investigation of the effects of different factors and their interactions are explained. Finally, different photocatalytic reactor configurations that are currently in use for water splitting application in laboratory and large scale are discussed.

Nanosized TiO[subscript 2] for Photocatalytic Water Splitting Studied by Oxygen Sensor and Data Logger

Science.gov (United States)

Zhang, Ruinan; Liu, Song; Yuan, Hongyan; Xiao, Dan; Choi, Martin M. F.

2012-01-01

Photocatalytic water splitting by semiconductor photocatalysts has attracted considerable attention in the past few decades. In this experiment, nanosized titanium dioxide (nano-TiO[subscript 2]) particles are used to photocatalytically split water, which is then monitored by an oxygen sensor. Sacrificial reagents such as organics (EDTA) and metal…

Bibliography of work on the heterogeneous photocatalytic removal of hazardous compounds from water and air: Update Number 1 to June, 1995

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Blake, D.M.

1995-11-01

This report is an update of a bibliography, published in May, 1994, of research performed on the photocatalytic oxidation of organic or inorganic compounds in air or water and on the photocatalytic reduction of metal-containing ions in water. The general focus of the research is on removing hazardous contaminants from air water to meet environmental or health regulations. The processes covered are based on the application of heterogeneous photocatalysts. The current state-of-the-art in catalysts are forms of titanium dioxide or modifications of titanium dioxide, but work on other heterogeneous catalysts is also included in this compilation. This update contains 574 references, most published between January, 1993 and June, 1995, but some references are from earlier work that were not included in the previous report. A new section has been added which gives information about companies that are active in providing products based on photocatalytic processes or that can provide pilot, demonstration, or commercial-scale water- or air-treatment systems. Key words, assigned by the author of this report, have been included with the citations in the listing of the bibliography.

Evaluation of photocatalytic treatment of industrial wastewater using solar energy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Restrepo, Gloria Maria; Rios, Luis A; Marin, Juan Miguel; Montoya, Juan Felipe; Velasquez, Jorge Armando

2008-01-01

Wastewater of a chemical industry was treated in a photocatalytic process, using a solar photo-reactor made of glass corrugated flat plates that had been set in cascade and using Titanium Dioxide (Degussa p-25) as photocatalyst that is supported on each one of them in film form. the influence of three variables in the decontamination efficiency were studied: amount of H 2 O 2 , volume of water and amount of dispersed TiO 2 , by means of the accomplishment of fifteen experiments carried out in discontinuous operation mode by a period of 5 hours for each test. The obtained results allow establishing that the FH is a viable technology of treatment like previous stage to a biological treatment since percentage of reduction in the DQO varies between 6 and 46% and was managed to reach a biodegradable effluent in all tests

Intercorrelated Ag3PO4 nanoparticles decorated with graphic carbon nitride: Enhanced stability and photocatalytic activities for water treatment

Science.gov (United States)

Ren, Jia; Chai, Yuanyuan; Liu, Qianqian; Zhang, Lu; Dai, Wei-Lin

2017-05-01

The method of decorating Ag3PO4 nanoparticles with carbon nitride material (g-C3N4) is demonstrated as an efficient pathway to remarkably improve the stability and photocatalytic performance of Ag3PO4 nanoparticles which have been widely used in photocatalysis, but limited by the instability. The improved material herein results in the largely enhanced photocatalytic performance for water purification under visible light irradiation, which was nearly 7 times as high as that of pure Ag3PO4. Meanwhile, the as-obtained materials show the unique stable property, mainly contributed by the protection effect of decorated g-C3N4 sheet. Additionally, the radical trapping experiments revealed that the introduction of g-C3N4 transformed the photocatalytic mechanism to some degree, where rad O2- played a more important role. The tremendous enhancement in catalytic performance may be attributed to the larger surface area, controllable particle size and the synergistic effect between Ag3PO4 and g-C3N4, promoting the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The decorating system can in principle be broadly put into use for unstable photocatalysts.

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanorod films for photocatalytic disinfection of contaminated water

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rodriguez, Juan; Paraguay-Delgado, F.; Lopez, Alcides; Alarcon, Julio; Estrada, Walter

2010-01-01

The growth of ZnO nanorods on a flat substrate was studied as a function of the main parameters used in their preparation and their ability to photocatalytically eliminate bacteria in water. The seed layer was obtained, by a spray pyrolysis technique, from a zinc acetate solution. Subsequently, to grow the rods, the seeds were immersed in a basic solution of zinc nitrate maintained at 90 o C. The growth parameters, thickness of the seed layer, acidity of the precursor solution used to obtain the seed layer, and the rate of crystal growth on the seed layer during the thermal bath treatment, were studied. The resulting materials were characterized morphologically by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM); X-ray diffraction and TEM were used to study their structure and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy to determine their absorbance. Most of the obtained materials were textured in the (002) direction perpendicular to the substrate. The rods have a hexagonal cross section between 60 and 150 nm. Using these rods, the photocatalytic degradation of Escherichia coli bacteria in water was studied; a positive influence of the surface area and crystalline growth on the degradation rate was observed.

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanorod films for photocatalytic disinfection of contaminated water

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rodriguez, Juan, E-mail: rodriguezback@gmail.co [Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, P.O. Box 31-139, Av. Tupac Amaru 210, Lima (Peru); Universidad de Tarapaca, Av. General Velasquez 1775, Arica (Chile); Paraguay-Delgado, F. [Centro de Investigacion en Materiales Avanzados S. C. Miguel de Cervantes 120, Chihuahua, Chih, CP 31109 (Mexico); National Institute for Nanotechnology, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2 M9 (Canada); Lopez, Alcides; Alarcon, Julio; Estrada, Walter [Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, P.O. Box 31-139, Av. Tupac Amaru 210, Lima (Peru)

2010-11-01

The growth of ZnO nanorods on a flat substrate was studied as a function of the main parameters used in their preparation and their ability to photocatalytically eliminate bacteria in water. The seed layer was obtained, by a spray pyrolysis technique, from a zinc acetate solution. Subsequently, to grow the rods, the seeds were immersed in a basic solution of zinc nitrate maintained at 90 {sup o}C. The growth parameters, thickness of the seed layer, acidity of the precursor solution used to obtain the seed layer, and the rate of crystal growth on the seed layer during the thermal bath treatment, were studied. The resulting materials were characterized morphologically by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM); X-ray diffraction and TEM were used to study their structure and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy to determine their absorbance. Most of the obtained materials were textured in the (002) direction perpendicular to the substrate. The rods have a hexagonal cross section between 60 and 150 nm. Using these rods, the photocatalytic degradation of Escherichia coli bacteria in water was studied; a positive influence of the surface area and crystalline growth on the degradation rate was observed.

Disinfection of Spacecraft Potable Water Systems by Photocatalytic Oxidation Using UV-A Light Emitting Diodes

Science.gov (United States)

Birmele, Michele N.; O'Neal, Jeremy A.; Roberts, Michael S.

2011-01-01

Ultraviolet (UV) light has long been used in terrestrial water treatment systems for photodisinfection and the removal of organic compounds by several processes including photoadsorption, photolysis, and photocatalytic oxidation/reduction. Despite its effectiveness for water treatment, UV has not been explored for spacecraft applications because of concerns about the safety and reliability of mercury-containing UV lamps. However, recent advances in ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV LEDs) have enabled the utilization of nanomaterials that possess the appropriate optical properties for the manufacture of LEDs capable of producing monochromatic light at germicidal wavelengths. This report describes the testing of a commercial-off-the-shelf, high power Nichia UV-A LED (250mW A365nnJ for the excitation of titanium dioxide as a point-of-use (POD) disinfection device in a potable water system. The combination of an immobilized, high surface area photocatalyst with a UV-A LED is promising for potable water system disinfection since toxic chemicals and resupply requirements are reduced. No additional consumables like chemical biocides, absorption columns, or filters are required to disinfect and/or remove potentially toxic disinfectants from the potable water prior to use. Experiments were conducted in a static test stand consisting of a polypropylene microtiter plate containing 3mm glass balls coated with titanium dioxide. Wells filled with water were exposed to ultraviolet light from an actively-cooled UV-A LED positioned above each well and inoculated with six individual challenge microorganisms recovered from the International Space Station (ISS): Burkholderia cepacia, Cupriavidus metallidurans, Methylobacterium fujisawaense, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Wautersia basilensis. Exposure to the Nichia UV-A LED with photocatalytic oxidation resulted in a complete (>7-log) reduction of each challenge bacteria population in UV-A LEDs and semi

Solution-derived photocatalytic films for environmental cleaning applications

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Štangar, U Lavrencic; Kete, M; Šuligoj, A; Tasbihi, M

2012-01-01

When photocatalytic water treatment is concerned, suspended catalyst in the aqueous phase is usually more efficient than immobilized on an inert support, but in the former case an undesirable separation/recycling step is needed. We have therefore concentrated on the preparation of immobilized catalysts in the form of films on glass and aluminium supports. The low-temperature sol-gel processing route to obtain transparent thin TiO 2 /SiO 2 films for self-cleaning purposes and thicker TiO 2 /SiO 2 coatings for efficient removal of pollutants in water and air are presented. The synthesis is based on a production of a nanocrystalline titania sol with a silica binder that after deposition does not require thermal treatment at high temperatures. Depending on the target application, some specific synthesis parameters and photocatalytic activity testing conditions are illustrated. For water-cleaning coatings fast kinetics is required, which was achieved by addition of a highly active titania powder into the sol. The same preparation procedure was used to prepare efficient air-cleaning coatings. On the other hand, self-cleaning films were thinner and transparent to keep the original appearance of the substrate and they solidified at ambient conditions. Advanced methodologies to evaluate photocatalytic activity of the films were applied.

Photocatalytic semiconductors synthesis, characterization, and environmental applications

CERN Document Server

Hernández-Ramírez, Aracely

2014-01-01

This critical volume examines the different methods used for the synthesis of a great number of photocatalysts, including TiO2, ZnO and other modified semiconductors, as well as characterization techniques used for determining the optical, structural and morphological properties of the semiconducting materials. Additionally, the authors discuss photoelectrochemical methods for determining the light activity of the photocatalytic semiconductors by means of measurement of properties such as band gap energy, flat band potential and kinetics of hole and electron transfer. Photocatalytic Semiconductors: Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Applications provide an overview of the semiconductor materials from first- to third-generation photocatalysts and their applications in wastewater treatment and water disinfection. The book further presents economic and toxicological aspects in the production and application of photocatalytic materials.

Novel Solar Photocatalytic Reactor for Wastewater Treatment

Science.gov (United States)

Sutisna; Rokhmat, M.; Wibowo, E.; Murniati, R.; Khairurrijal; Abdullah, M.

2017-07-01

A new solar photocatalytic reactor (photoreactor) using TiO2 nanoparticles coated onto plastic granules has been designed. Catalyst granules are placed into the cavity of a reactor panel made of glass. A pump is used to circulate wastewater in the photoreactor. Methylene blue (MB) dissolved in water was chosen as the wastewater model. The performance of the photoreactor was evaluated based on changes in MB concentration with respect to time. The photoreactor showed a good performance by degrading 10 L of MB solution up to 96.54% after 48 h of solar irradiation. The photoreactor was scaled up by enlarging the panel area to twice its original size. The increase in the surface area of the reactor panel and therefore of the mass of catalyst granules and reactor volume led to a three-fold increase of the photodegradation rate. In addition, the MB degradation kinetics were also studied. Data analysis confirmed the applicability of the pseudo-first-order Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. The proposed photoreactor has great potential for use in large-scale wastewater treatment.

Applied studies in solar photocatalytic detoxification: an overview

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Malato, S.; Blanco, J.; Vidal, A.; Alarcon, D.; Maldonado, M.I.; Caceres, J.; Gernjak, W. [CIEMAT - Plataforma Solar de Almeria, Tabernas (Spain)

2003-10-01

The technical feasibility and performance of photocatalytic degradation of four water-soluble pesticides (diuron, imidacloprid, formetanate and methomyl) have been studied at pilot scale in two well-defined systems which are of special interest because natural-solar UV light can be used for them: heterogeneous photocatalysis with titanium dioxide and homogeneous photocatalysis by photo-Fenton. The pilot plant is made up of compound parabolic collectors specially designed for solar photocatalytic applications. The initial concentration tested with imidacloprid, formetanate and methomyl was 50 and 30 mg/l with diuron, and the catalyst concentrations were 200 mg/l and 0.05 mM with TiO{sub 2} and iron, respectively. Total disappearance of the parent compounds, 90% mineralisation and toxicity reduction below the threshold (EC{sub 50}) have been attained with all pesticides tested. All these results have contributed to an evaluation of photocatalytic treatment capacity and comments on the main parameters of TiO{sub 2} and Fe separation from the treated water. (author)

Photocatalytic Water Splitting—The Untamed Dream: A Review of Recent Advances

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Tahereh Jafari

2016-07-01

Full Text Available Photocatalytic water splitting using sunlight is a promising technology capable of providing high energy yield without pollutant byproducts. Herein, we review various aspects of this technology including chemical reactions, physiochemical conditions and photocatalyst types such as metal oxides, sulfides, nitrides, nanocomposites, and doped materials followed by recent advances in computational modeling of photoactive materials. As the best-known catalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen evolution, TiO2 is discussed in a separate section, along with its challenges such as the wide band gap, large overpotential for hydrogen evolution, and rapid recombination of produced electron-hole pairs. Various approaches are addressed to overcome these shortcomings, such as doping with different elements, heterojunction catalysts, noble metal deposition, and surface modification. Development of a photocatalytic corrosion resistant, visible light absorbing, defect-tuned material with small particle size is the key to complete the sunlight to hydrogen cycle efficiently. Computational studies have opened new avenues to understand and predict the electronic density of states and band structure of advanced materials and could pave the way for the rational design of efficient photocatalysts for water splitting. Future directions are focused on developing innovative junction architectures, novel synthesis methods and optimizing the existing active materials to enhance charge transfer, visible light absorption, reducing the gas evolution overpotential and maintaining chemical and physical stability.

Inactivation of E. Coli in Water Using Photocatalytic, Nanostructured Films Synthesized by Aerosol Routes

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Pratim Biswas

2013-03-01

Full Text Available TiO2 nanostructured films were synthesized by an aerosol chemical vapor deposition (ACVD method with different controlled morphologies: columnar, granular, and branched structures for the photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli (E. coli in water. Effects of film morphology and external applied voltage on inactivation rate were investigated. As-prepared films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM, transmission electron microscopy (TEM, X-ray diffractometry (XRD, and UV-VIS. Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical inactivation of E. coli using as-prepared TiO2 films were performed under irradiation of UVA light (note: UVA has a low efficiency to inactivate E. coli. Inactivation rate constants for each case were obtained from their respective inactivation curve through a 2 h incubation period. Photocatalytic inactivation rate constants of E. coli are 0.02/min (using columnar films, and 0.08/min (using branched films. The inactivation rate constant for the columnar film was enhanced by 330% by applied voltage on the film while that for the branched film was increased only by 30%. Photocatalytic microbial inactivation rate of the columnar and the branched films were also compared taking into account their different surface areas. Since the majority of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface is UVA, this study provides an opportunity to use sunlight to efficiently decontaminate drinking water.

Transferring Knowledge of Electrocatalysis to Photocatalysis: Photocatalytic Water Splitting

KAUST Repository

Takanabe, Kazuhiro

2017-06-24

One of the most attractive features of photocatalytic reactions is the ability to achieve energetically uphill (photosynthetic) reactions. In many photocatalytic reactions, the reactions involve multielectron transfers with the adsorbed intermediates. In this case, photocatalysis is nothing but electrocatalysis initiated and driven by the electron potential shift caused by the photocatalyst (photon absorber). This condition is indeed true for photocatalysts for water splitting, which are also electrocatalysts because both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) require multiple electron transfers at the active surfaces. This chapter deals with the product-side in the six-gear concept. It shows the electrocatalytic performance when using an electrocatalyst on the surface. The chapter further shows the current-potential curve for an electrocatalytic process isolated from the photocatalyst process. For an electrocatalyst to achieve electrochemical reactions, the potential of the catalyst must be shifted at the interface of the semiconductor, providing electromotive force or overpotential for redox reactions.

Transferring Knowledge of Electrocatalysis to Photocatalysis: Photocatalytic Water Splitting

KAUST Repository

Takanabe, Kazuhiro

2017-01-01

One of the most attractive features of photocatalytic reactions is the ability to achieve energetically uphill (photosynthetic) reactions. In many photocatalytic reactions, the reactions involve multielectron transfers with the adsorbed intermediates. In this case, photocatalysis is nothing but electrocatalysis initiated and driven by the electron potential shift caused by the photocatalyst (photon absorber). This condition is indeed true for photocatalysts for water splitting, which are also electrocatalysts because both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) require multiple electron transfers at the active surfaces. This chapter deals with the product-side in the six-gear concept. It shows the electrocatalytic performance when using an electrocatalyst on the surface. The chapter further shows the current-potential curve for an electrocatalytic process isolated from the photocatalyst process. For an electrocatalyst to achieve electrochemical reactions, the potential of the catalyst must be shifted at the interface of the semiconductor, providing electromotive force or overpotential for redox reactions.

Synthesis and optimization of Ag–TiO2 composite nanofibers for photocatalytic treatment of impaired water sources

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nalbandian, Michael J.; Zhang, Miluo; Sanchez, Joel; Kim, Seil; Choa, Yong-Ho; Cwiertny, David M.; Myung, Nosang V.

2015-01-01

Highlights: • We synthesized tunable Ag–TiO 2 nanofibers via electrospinning. • We examined property changes due to the addition of the co-catalyst Ag. • Photocatalytic activity against phenol was studied under UV irradiation. • The 0.5 at.% Ag–TiO 2 showed optimal photocatalytic activity. • The enhanced performance was associated with electron trap mechanism. - Abstract: In this work, Ag–TiO 2 composite nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning, where the composition and crystallinity were tuned by controlling the precursor composition and annealing conditions. Characterization revealed that bulk–embedded Ag nanoparticles inhibited anatase-to-rutile phase transformation and a decrease in band gap from 3.2 down to 2.8 eV with increase in the Ag content. The photocatalytic activity of 0.5 at.% Ag–TiO 2 nanofibers toward phenol degradation was the greatest, outperforming both unmodified TiO 2 nanofibers and commercially available TiO 2 Aeroxide ® P25 by a factor of ∼3. The high reactivity of the low content Ag–TiO 2 nanofibers can be attributed to the addition of electron traps, which provide efficient carrier separation and, therefore, decreased recombination. However, further increase in Ag content led to lower photoreactivity, most likely due to the growth of the Ag nanoparticles, which suggests an optimal size of 2 to 3 nm for the Ag nanoparticles at 0.5 at.% provided the greatest photoreactivity. Ag–TiO 2 nanofibers show great promise as innovative and highly performing nanomaterials for future nanotechnology-based treatment systems, particularly when the photoreactivity demonstrate herein is used in synergy with the established antimicrobial activity of nano-Ag.

Rapid and efficient photocatalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium by using “water dispersible” TiO2 nanoparticles

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang, Lei; Kang, Shi-Zhao; Li, Xiangqing; Qin, Lixia; Yan, Hao; Mu, Jin

2016-01-01

In the present work, “water dispersible” TiO 2 nanoparticles were prepared, and meanwhile, their photocatalytic activity was systematically tested for the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) ions. It is found that the as-prepared “water dispersible” TiO 2 nanoparticles are a highly efficient photocatalyst for the reduction of Cr(VI) ions in water under UV irradiation, and suitable for the remediation of Cr(VI) ions wastewater with low concentration. Compared with commercial TiO 2 nanoparticles (P25), the “water dispersible” TiO 2 nanoparticles exhibit 3.8-fold higher photocatalytic activity. 100% Cr (VI) ions can be reduced into Cr(III) ions within 10 min when the Cr (VI) ions initial concentration is 10 mg L −1 . Moreover, the electrical energy consumption can be obviously decreased using the “water dispersible” TiO 2 nanoparticles. These results suggest that the “water dispersible” TiO 2 nanoparticles are a promising photocatalyst for rapid removal of Cr (VI) in environmental therapy. - Highlights: • “Water dispersible” TiO 2 nanoparticles with high photocatalytic activity. • 100% Cr (VI) (10 mg L −1 ) can be reduced within 10 min. • Obvious decrease of electrical energy consumption.

Solar CPC Pilot Plant Photocatalytic Degradation of Indigo Carmine Dye in Waters and Wastewaters Using Supported-TiO2: Influence of Photodegradation Parameters

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Enrico Mendes Saggioro

2015-01-01

Full Text Available The photocatalytic degradation of indigo carmine (IC dye in the presence of titanium dioxide under different conditions was reported. Several factors which interfere with the photodegradation efficiency as catalyst concentration, pH, initial concentration of dye, presence of inorganic anions, temperature, and the addition of hydrogen peroxide were studied under artificial irradiation with a 125 W mercury vapor lamp. Additionally, the catalyst supported on glass spheres was used for the photocatalytic degradation of the dye present in several types of waters in a CPC solar pilot plant. The photocatalytic products, carboxylic acids, and SO42- and NH4+ were followed during IC mineralization. Formate, acetate, and oxalate were detected in real MWWTP secondary effluent. The mineralization efficiency was of 42 and 21% using in suspension and supported TiO2, respectively. In order to evaluate biological effects, Eisenia andrei earthworms were used as a model organism. No significant difference (P>0.05 of weight was observed in the earthworm submitted to different concentrations of IC and its photoproducts. The photocatalytic degradation of IC on TiO2 supported on glass spheres suffered strong influence of the water matrix; nevertheless the method has the enormous advantage that it eliminates the need for the final catalyst removal step, reducing therefore the cost of treatment.

Preparation of Hierarchical BiOBr Microspheres for Visible Light-Induced Photocatalytic Detoxification and Disinfection

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Ayla Ahmad

2016-01-01

Full Text Available Photocatalytic degradation is a promising alternative to traditional wastewater treatment methods. Recently developed visible light-responsive photocatalyst, BiOBr, has attracted extensive attentions. Hereby, a detailed investigation of application of BiOBr to bacterial inactivation and organic pollutants degradation is reported. Hydrothermal catalyst was prepared using template-free method. While, for solvothermal synthesis, CTAB was used as a template. Results indicate a higher photocatalytic activity by the solvothermally prepared catalyst. Solvothermally prepared BiOBr exhibited high photocatalytic activities in both water detoxification and disinfection.

A comparative view of radiation, photo and photocatalytically induced oxidation of water pollutants

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Getoff, N.

1997-01-01

Water resources are presently overloaded with biologically resistant (refractory) pollutants. Several oxidation methods have been developed for their degradation, the most efficient of which is irradiation treatment, particularly that based on e-beam processing in the presence of O 2 /O 3 . The next-best method is photoinduced pollutant oxidation with VUV- and/or UV-light, using H 2 O 2 or H 2 O 2 /O 3 as an additional source of OH radicals. The photocatalytic method, using e.g. TiO 2 as a catalyst in combination with oxidation agents such as H 2 O 2 or H 2 O 2 /O 3 , is also recommended. The suitability of these three methods is illustrated by examples and they are briefly discussed and compared on the basis of the energy consumption and efficiency. Other methods, such as ozone treatment, the photo-Fenton process, ultrasonic and electrochemical treatments, as well as the well known biological process and thermal oxidation of refractory pollutants, are briefly mentioned. (author)

Bibliography of Work on the Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Removal of Hazardous Compounds from Water and Air--Update Number 4 to October 2001

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Blake, D.

2001-11-19

This report is the fifth in a series of bibliographies of work on the photocatalytic oxidation of organic or inorganic compounds in air or water and on the photocatalytic reduction of inorganic compounds in water. This search contains information extracted from 1149 new references to papers, books, and reports from searches conducted between October 1996 and April 2001.

Nanostructured Ceramic Photocatalytic Membrane Modified with a Polymer Template for Textile Wastewater Treatment

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Rizwan Ahmad

2017-12-01

Full Text Available Photocatalytic ceramic membranes have attracted considerable attention for industrial wastewater treatment. However, morphological control of the membrane surface to improve its photocatalytic reactivity for the degradation of organic pollutants remains a challenge. Herein, we report a new nanostructured TiO2/Al2O3 composite ceramic membrane prepared from a poly(oxyethylene methacrylate (POEM template through a sol–gel method and its photocatalytic performance in the treatment of a model dye compound. The POEM polymeric template allowed the homogeneous distribution of catalytic sites, i.e., the TiO2 layer, on the Al2O3 membrane surface, resulting in improved organic dye degradation along with effective fouling mitigation. The immobilization of a TiO2 layer on the Al2O3 membrane support also significantly enhanced the membrane adsorption capacity toward dye organic compounds. An organic removal efficiency of over 96% was achieved with the TiO2/Al2O3 composite membrane under Ultraviolet (UV irradiation. In addition, the self-cleaning efficiency of the TiO2/Al2O3 composite membrane was remarkably improved by the degradation of organic foulants on the membrane under UV illumination.

Water-driven micromotors for rapid photocatalytic degradation of biological and chemical warfare agents.

Science.gov (United States)

Li, Jinxing; Singh, Virendra V; Sattayasamitsathit, Sirilak; Orozco, Jahir; Kaufmann, Kevin; Dong, Renfeng; Gao, Wei; Jurado-Sanchez, Beatriz; Fedorak, Yuri; Wang, Joseph

2014-11-25

Threats of chemical and biological warfare agents (CBWA) represent a serious global concern and require rapid and efficient neutralization methods. We present a highly effective micromotor strategy for photocatalytic degradation of CBWA based on light-activated TiO2/Au/Mg microspheres that propel autonomously in natural water and obviate the need for external fuel, decontaminating reagent, or mechanical agitation. The activated TiO2/Au/Mg micromotors generate highly reactive oxygen species responsible for the efficient destruction of the cell membranes of the anthrax simulant Bacillus globigii spore, as well as rapid and complete in situ mineralization of the highly persistent organophosphate nerve agents into nonharmful products. The water-driven propulsion of the TiO2/Au/Mg micromotors facilitates efficient fluid transport and dispersion of the photogenerated reactive oxidative species and their interaction with the CBWA. Coupling of the photocatalytic surface of the micromotors and their autonomous water-driven propulsion thus leads to a reagent-free operation which holds a considerable promise for diverse "green" defense and environmental applications.

Combined process of electrocoagulation and photocatalytic degradation for the treatment of olive washing wastewater.

Science.gov (United States)

Ates, Hasan; Dizge, Nadir; Yatmaz, H Cengiz

2017-01-01

In this study, an electrocoagulation reactor (ECR) and photocatalytic reactor (PCR) were tested to understand the performance of combined electrocoagulation and photocatalytic-degradation of olive washing wastewater (OWW). The effects of initial pH (6.0, 6.9, 8.0, 9.0), applied voltage (10.0, 12.5, 15.0 V), and operating time (30, 60, 90, 120 min) were investigated in the electrocoagulation reactor when aluminum electrodes were used as both anode and cathode. The pH, conductivity, color, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and phenol were measured versus time to determine the efficiency of the ECR and PCR process. It was observed that electrocoagulation as a single treatment process supplied the COD removal of 62.5%, color removal of 98.1%, and total phenol removal of 87% at optimum conditions as pH 6.9, applied voltage of 12.5 V, and operating time of 120 min. Moreover, final pH and conductivity were 7.7 and 980 μS/cm, respectively. On the other hand, the effect of semiconductor catalyst type (TiO 2 and ZnO) and loading (1, 2, 3 g/L) were tested using PCR as a stand-alone technique. It was found that photocatalytic degradation as a single treatment process when using 1 g/L ZnO achieved the COD removal of 46%, color removal of 99% with a total phenol removal of 41% at optimum conditions. Final pH and conductivity were 6.2 and 915 μS/cm, respectively. Among semiconductor catalysts, TiO 2 and ZnO performed identical efficiencies for both COD and total phenol removal. Moreover, combination in which electrochemical degradation was employed as a pre-treatment to the photocatalytic degradation process obtained high COD removal of 88% and total phenol, as well as color removal of 100% for the OWW. The electrochemical treatment alone was not effective, but in combination with the photocatalytic process, led to a high-quality effluent. Finally, sludge collected from the electrocoagulation process was characterized by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared and X

Photocatalytic overall water splitting promoted by an α-β phase junction on Ga2O3.

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Xiang; Xu, Qian; Li, Mingrun; Shen, Shuai; Wang, Xiuli; Wang, Yaochuan; Feng, Zhaochi; Shi, Jingying; Han, Hongxian; Li, Can

2012-12-21

When Alpha met Beta: a tuneable α-β surface phase junction on Ga(2)O(3) can significantly improve photocatalytic overall water splitting into H(2) and O(2) over individual α-Ga(2)O(3) or β-Ga(2)O(3) surface phases. This enhanced photocatalytic performance is mainly attributed to the efficient charge separation and transfer across the α-β phase junction. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Solar photocatalytic cleaning of polluted water. Solare Reinigung verschmutzter Waesser mittels Photokatalyse

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bockelmann, D

1994-01-01

Alternatively to biological, physical and chemical methods of waste water cleaning, photocatalysis can be employed. In this residue-free method, titanium dioxide particles are brought into contact with polluted water as photocatalysts. Under UV irradiation at wave-lengths below 400 nm, change carriers are generated in the semiconductor particles that act so intensely oxidizing as to completely degrade almost all organic pollutants in waste water. In this process, the ultra-violet part of the solar spectrum can be harnessed to generate oxidation equivalents. Thus, solar photocatalytic waste water cleaning is excellently suited for developing countries. (BWI)

Enhancing Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Blue Using PVP-Capped and Uncapped CdSe Nanoparticles

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Kgobudi Frans Chepape

2017-01-01

Full Text Available Quantum confinement of semiconductor nanoparticles is a potential feature which can be interesting for photocatalysis, and cadmium selenide is one simple type of quantum dot to use in the following photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes. CdSe nanoparticles capped with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP in various concentration ratios were synthesized by the chemical reduction method and characterized. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM analysis of the samples showed that 50% PVP-capped CdSe nanoparticles were uniformly distributed in size with an average of 2.7 nm and shape which was spherical-like. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl blue (MB in water showed efficiencies of 31% and 48% when using uncapped and 50% PVP-capped CdSe nanoparticles as photocatalysts, respectively. The efficiency of PVP-capped CdSe nanoparticles indicated that a complete green process can be utilized for photocatalytic treatment of water and waste water.

The suitability of silicon carbide for photocatalytic water oxidation

Science.gov (United States)

Aslam, M.; Qamar, M. T.; Ahmed, Ikram; Rehman, Ateeq Ur; Ali, Shahid; Ismail, I. M. I.; Hameed, Abdul

2018-04-01

Silicon carbide (SiC), owing to its extraordinary chemical stability and refractory properties, is widely used in the manufacturing industry. Despite the semiconducting nature and morphology-tuned band gap, its efficacy as photocatalysts has not been thoroughly investigated. The current study reports the synthesis, characterization and the evaluation of the capability of silicon carbide for hydrogen generation from water splitting. The optical characterization of the as-synthesized powder exposed the formation of multi-wavelength absorbing entities in synthetic process. The structural analysis by XRD and the fine microstructure analysis by HRTEM revealed the cubic 3C-SiC (β-SiC) and hexagonal α-polymorphs (2H-SiC and 6H-SiC) as major and minor phases, respectively. The Mott-Schottky analysis verified the n-type nature of the material with the flat band potential of - 0.7 V. In the electrochemical evaluation, the sharp increase in the peak currents in various potential ranges, under illumination, revealed the plausible potential of the material for the oxidation of water and generation of hydrogen. The generation of hydrogen and oxygen, as a consequence of water splitting in the actual photocatalytic experiments, was observed and measured. A significant increase in the yield of hydrogen was noticed in the presence of methanol as h + scavenger, whereas a retarding effect was offered by the Fe3+ entities that served as e - scavengers. The combined effect of both methanol and Fe3+ ions in the photocatalytic process was also investigated. Besides hydrogen gas, the other evolved gasses such as methane and carbon monoxide were also measured to estimate the mechanism of the process.

Visible Light Photocatalytic Properties of Modified Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles via Aluminium Treatment

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Dessy Ariyanti

2016-03-01

Full Text Available Titanium dioxide (TiO2 has gained much attentions for the last few decades due to its remarkable performance in photocatalysis and some other related properties. However, its wide bandgap (~3.2 eV can only absorb UV energy which is only ~5% of solar light spectrum. The objective of this research was to improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 by improving the optical absorption to the visible light range. Here, colored TiO2 nanoparticles range from light to dark grey were prepared via aluminium treatment at the temperatures ranging from 400 to 600 oC. The modified TiO2 is able to absorb up to 50% of visible light (400-700 nm and shows a relatively good photocatalytic activity in organic dye (Rhodamine B degradation under visible light irradiation compared with the commercial TiO2. Copyright © 2016 BCREC GROUP. All rights reserved Received: 10th November 2015; Revised: 7th January 2016; Accepted: 7th January 20 How to Cite: Ariyanti, D., Dong, J.Z., Dong, J.Y., Gao, W. (2016. Visible Light Photocatalytic Properties of Modified Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles via Aluminium Treatment. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis, 11 (1: 40-47. (doi:10.9767/bcrec.11.1.414.40-47 Permalink/DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.11.1.414.40-47

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid)/TiO2/graphene oxide nanocomposite hydrogels for pH-sensitive photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Moon, Young-E; Jung, Gowun; Yun, Jumi; Kim, Hyung-Il

2013-01-01

Graphical abstract: The photocatalytic removal of pollutants was improved by the two-step mechanism based on the adsorption of pollutants by hydrogel and the effective decomposition by combination of TiO 2 and graphene oxide. -- Highlights: • pH sensitive PVA/PAAc hydrogels were prepared by radical polymerization and condensation reaction. • PVA/PAAc/TiO 2 /graphene oxide nanocomposite hydrogels were used for treatment of basic waste water. • Photocatalytic acitivity of TiO 2 was improved by incorporation of graphene oxide. • Photocatalytic decomposition by nanocomposite hydrogel was improved by increasing pH. -- Abstract: Poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid)/TiO 2 /graphene oxide nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared using radical polymerization and condensation reaction for the photocatalytic treatment of waste water. Graphene oxide was used as an additive to improve the photocatalytic activity of poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid)/TiO 2 nanocomposite hydrogels. Both TiO 2 and graphene oxide were immobilized in poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel matrix for an easier recovery after the waste water treatment. The photocatalytic activity of poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid)/TiO 2 /graphene oxide nanocomposite hydrogels was evaluated on the base of the degradation of pollutants by using UV spectrometer. The improved removal of pollutants was due to the two-step mechanism based on the adsorption of pollutants by nanocomposite hydrogel and the effective decomposition of pollutants by TiO 2 and graphene oxide. The highest swelling of nanocomposite hydrogel was observed at pH 10 indicating that poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid)/TiO 2 /graphene oxide nanocomposite hydrogels were suitable as a promising system for the treatment of basic waste water

Synthesis and optimization of Ag–TiO{sub 2} composite nanofibers for photocatalytic treatment of impaired water sources

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nalbandian, Michael J.; Zhang, Miluo; Sanchez, Joel [Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521 (United States); Kim, Seil; Choa, Yong-Ho [Department of Fusion Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan, Kyeonggi-do 426-791 (Korea, Republic of); Cwiertny, David M., E-mail: david-cwiertny@uiowa.edu [Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA 52242 (United States); Myung, Nosang V., E-mail: myung@engr.ucr.edu [Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521 (United States)

2015-12-15

Highlights: • We synthesized tunable Ag–TiO{sub 2} nanofibers via electrospinning. • We examined property changes due to the addition of the co-catalyst Ag. • Photocatalytic activity against phenol was studied under UV irradiation. • The 0.5 at.% Ag–TiO{sub 2} showed optimal photocatalytic activity. • The enhanced performance was associated with electron trap mechanism. - Abstract: In this work, Ag–TiO{sub 2} composite nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning, where the composition and crystallinity were tuned by controlling the precursor composition and annealing conditions. Characterization revealed that bulk–embedded Ag nanoparticles inhibited anatase-to-rutile phase transformation and a decrease in band gap from 3.2 down to 2.8 eV with increase in the Ag content. The photocatalytic activity of 0.5 at.% Ag–TiO{sub 2} nanofibers toward phenol degradation was the greatest, outperforming both unmodified TiO{sub 2} nanofibers and commercially available TiO{sub 2} Aeroxide{sup ®} P25 by a factor of ∼3. The high reactivity of the low content Ag–TiO{sub 2} nanofibers can be attributed to the addition of electron traps, which provide efficient carrier separation and, therefore, decreased recombination. However, further increase in Ag content led to lower photoreactivity, most likely due to the growth of the Ag nanoparticles, which suggests an optimal size of 2 to 3 nm for the Ag nanoparticles at 0.5 at.% provided the greatest photoreactivity. Ag–TiO{sub 2} nanofibers show great promise as innovative and highly performing nanomaterials for future nanotechnology-based treatment systems, particularly when the photoreactivity demonstrate herein is used in synergy with the established antimicrobial activity of nano-Ag.

Photocatalytic degradation of TCE in water using TiO{sub 2} catalyst

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Farooq, Muhammad [Pakistan National Accreditation Council, 4th Floor Evacuee Trust Complex, F-5/1 Islamabad (Pakistan); Raja, Iftikhar A.; Pervez, Arshad [Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad (Pakistan)

2009-09-15

Wastewater is generally released untreated into the rivers and streams in developing countries. Industrial wastewater usually contains highly toxic pollutants, cyanides, chlorinated compounds such as trichloroethylene (TCE). Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight also decomposes organic compounds by oxidation process. However, the process is less effective due to large amount of toxic effluent entering the main stream water. The solar radiation can effectively be applied to accelerate the process by using suitable catalyst for economically cleaning the major fresh water sources. This paper describes photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene in aqueous solution using TiO{sub 2}. Variable parameters such as initial concentration of TCE, type and concentration of TiO{sub 2} and reaction time are investigated. The powder TiO{sub 2} is found more effective than the sand TiO{sub 2} for decomposing TCE. The effect of sand TiO{sub 2} as photocatalyst is investigated at various water depths. It is observed that up to 45 mm water depth, sand TiO{sub 2} shows photo-degradation of TCE. The degradation rate increases as the concentration of TCE is increased up to 45 {mu}l of TCE per litre of water. Similarly the photocatalytic degradation increases with TiO{sub 2} concentration up to 0.7 g L{sup -1} of solution but then starts decreasing. The optimum values of TiO{sub 2} and TCE concentration obtained are 0.7 g and 35 {mu}l L{sup -1} of the solution, respectively. (author)

Solar photocatalytic water oxidation over Ag3PO4/g-C3N4 composite materials mediated by metallic Ag and graphene

Science.gov (United States)

Cui, Xingkai; Tian, Lin; Xian, Xiaozhai; Tang, Hua; Yang, Xiaofei

2018-02-01

Solar-driven water splitting over semiconductor-based photocatalysts provides direct conversion of solar energy to chemical energy, in which electron-hole separation and charge transport are critical for enhancing the photocatalytic activity of semiconducting materials. Moreover, the search for active photocatalysts that efficiently oxidize water remains a challenging task. Here, we demonstrate that a series of Ag3PO4/Ag/graphene/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) heterostructured materials can drive photocatalytic water oxidation efficiently under LED illumination. The water oxidation behavior of as-prepared composite photocatalysts in relation to the added amount of g-C3N4 and the roles of electron mediators was investigated in detail. Based on the illuminated Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism, the photogenerated electrons and holes can be separated effectively and the electron-hole recombination of bulk material is suppressed. The reduced metallic Ag nanoparticles were found to function as the center for the accumulation of electrons from Ag3PO4 and holes from g-C3N4. By exploiting the proper addition of g-C3N4 into the composite, photocatalytic oxygen evolution performance over the heterostructured materials could be suitably tuned, which resulted in highly efficient water oxidation.

Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of poly(triazine imide)

KAUST Repository

Ham, Yeilin; Maeda, Kazuhiko; Cha, Dong Kyu; Takanabe, Kazuhiro; Domen, Kazunari

2012-01-01

Poly(triazine imide) was synthesized with incorporation of Li+ and Cl- ions (PTI/Li+Cl-) to form a carbon nitride derivative. The synthesis of this material by the temperature-induced condensation of dicyandiamide was examined both in a eutectic mixture of LiCl-KCl and without KCl. On the basis of X-ray diffraction measurements of the synthesized materials, we suggest that a stoichiometric amount of LiCl is necessary to obtain the PTI/Li+Cl- phase without requiring the presence of KCl at 873 K. PTI/Li+Cl- with modification by either Pt or CoOx as cocatalyst photocatalytically produced H2 or O2, respectively, from water. The production of H2 or O2 from water indicates that the valence and conduction bands of PTI/Li+Cl- were properly located to achieve overall water splitting. The treatment of PTI/Li +Cl- with [Pt(NH3)4]2+ cations enabled the deposition of Pt through ion exchange, demonstrating photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution, while treatment with [PtCl6]2- anions resulted in no Pt deposition. This was most likely because of the preferential exchange between Li+ ions and [Pt(NH3)4]2+ cations. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of poly(triazine imide)

KAUST Repository

Ham, Yeilin

2012-10-22

Poly(triazine imide) was synthesized with incorporation of Li+ and Cl- ions (PTI/Li+Cl-) to form a carbon nitride derivative. The synthesis of this material by the temperature-induced condensation of dicyandiamide was examined both in a eutectic mixture of LiCl-KCl and without KCl. On the basis of X-ray diffraction measurements of the synthesized materials, we suggest that a stoichiometric amount of LiCl is necessary to obtain the PTI/Li+Cl- phase without requiring the presence of KCl at 873 K. PTI/Li+Cl- with modification by either Pt or CoOx as cocatalyst photocatalytically produced H2 or O2, respectively, from water. The production of H2 or O2 from water indicates that the valence and conduction bands of PTI/Li+Cl- were properly located to achieve overall water splitting. The treatment of PTI/Li +Cl- with [Pt(NH3)4]2+ cations enabled the deposition of Pt through ion exchange, demonstrating photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution, while treatment with [PtCl6]2- anions resulted in no Pt deposition. This was most likely because of the preferential exchange between Li+ ions and [Pt(NH3)4]2+ cations. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Membrane chemical reactor (MCR) combining photocatalysis and microfiltration for grey water treatment.

Science.gov (United States)

Rivero, M J; Parsons, S A; Jeffrey, P; Pidou, M; Jefferson, B

2006-01-01

Urban water recycling is now becoming an important issue where water resources are becoming scarce. This paper looks at reusing grey water; the preference is treatment processes based on biological systems to remove the dissolved organic content. Here, an alternative process, photocatalysis is discussed as it is an attractive technology that could be well-suited for treating the recalcitrant organic compounds found in grey water. The photocatalytic process oxidises organic reactants at a catalyst surface in the presence of ultraviolet light. Given enough exposure time, organic compounds will be oxidized into CO2 and water. The best contact is achieved in a slurry reactor but a second step to separate and recover the catalyst is need. This paper discusses a new membrane chemical reactor (MCR) combining photocatalysis and microfiltration for grey water treatment.

Electrochemical approach to evaluate the mechanism of photocatalytic water splitting on oxide photocatalysts

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Matsumoto, Yasumichi; Unal, Ugur; Tanaka, Noriyuki; Kudo, Akihiko; Kato, Hideki

2004-01-01

Photoelectrochemical measurements of TiO 2 , NaTaO 3 , and Cr or Sb doped TiO 2 and SrTiO 3 photocatalysts were carried out in H 2 and O 2 saturated electrolytes in order to evaluate the reverse reactions during water photolysis. The poor activity of TiO 2 as a result of reverse photoreactions of O 2 reduction and H 2 oxidation was revealed with the respective high cathodic and anodic photocurrents. The rise in the photocurrents at NaTaO 3 after La doping was in harmony with the doping-induced increase in the photocatalytic activity. NiO loading suppresses the O 2 photoreverse reactions, which declines photocatalytic activity, and/or promotes the photo-oxidation of water, because the O 2 photo-reduction current was scarcely observed near the flatband potential. Photocurrents of O 2 reduction and H 2 oxidation were observed under visible light for the Cr and Sb doped SrTiO 3 and TiO 2 , respectively. These phenomena are in harmony with the previous reports on the photocatalysts examined with sacrificial reagents

Photocatalytic Nanocomposites for the Protection of European Architectural Heritage.

Science.gov (United States)

Gherardi, Francesca; Roveri, Marco; Goidanich, Sara; Toniolo, Lucia

2018-01-03

In the field of stone protection, the introduction of inorganic nanoparticles, such as TiO₂, ZnO, and Ag in polymeric blends can enhance the protective action of pristine treatments, as well as confer additional properties (photocatalytic, antifouling, and antibacterial). In the framework of the "Nano-Cathedral" European project, nanostructured photocatalytic protective treatments were formulated by using different TiO₂ nanoparticles, solvents, and silane/siloxane systems in the blends. The results about the characterization and application of two promising nano-TiO₂ based products applied on Apuan marble and Ajarte limestone are here reported, aiming at investigating the complex system "treatment/stone-substrate". The nanocomposites show better performances when compared to a commercial reference siloxane based protective treatment, resulting in different performances once applied on different carbonatic substrates, with very low and high open porosity, confirming the necessity of correlating precisely the characteristics of the stone material to those of the protective formulations. In particular, the TiO₂ photocatalytic behavior is strictly linked to the amount of available nanoparticles and to the active surface area. The alkyl silane oligomers of the water-based formulation have a good penetration into the microstructure of Ajarte limestone, whereas the solvent-based and small size monomeric formulation shows better results for Apuan marble, granting a good coverage of the pores. The encouraging results obtained so far in lab will be confirmed by monitoring tests aiming at assessing the effectiveness of the treatments applied in pilot sites of historical Gothic Cathedrals.

Efficient solar hydrogen production by photocatalytic water splitting: From fundamental study to pilot demonstration

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jing, Dengwei; Guo, Liejin; Zhao, Liang; Zhang, Ximin; Liu, Huan; Li, Mingtao; Shen, Shaohua; Liu, Guanjie; Hu, Xiaowei; Zhang, Xianghui; Zhang, Kai; Ma, Lijin; Guo, Penghui [State Key Lab of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi' an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi' an 710049 (China)

2010-07-15

Photocatalytic water splitting with solar light is one of the most promising technologies for solar hydrogen production. From a systematic point of view, whether it is photocatalyst and reaction system development or the reactor-related design, the essentials could be summarized as: photon transfer limitations and mass transfer limitations (in the case of liquid phase reactions). Optimization of these two issues are therefore given special attention throughout our study. In this review, the state of the art for the research of photocatalytic hydrogen production, both outcomes and challenges in this field, were briefly reviewed. Research progress of our lab, from fundamental study of photocatalyst preparation to reactor configuration and pilot level demonstration, were introduced, showing the complete process of our effort for this technology to be economic viable in the near future. Our systematic and continuous study in this field lead to the development of a Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) based photocatalytic hydrogen production solar rector for the first time. We have demonstrated the feasibility for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production under direct solar light. The exiting challenges and difficulties for this technology to proceed from successful laboratory photocatalysis set-up up to an industrially relevant scale are also proposed. These issues have been the object of our research and would also be the direction of our study in future. (author)

Research Update: Photoelectrochemical water splitting and photocatalytic hydrogen production using ferrites (MFe2O4) under visible light irradiation

Science.gov (United States)

Dillert, Ralf; Taffa, Dereje H.; Wark, Michael; Bredow, Thomas; Bahnemann, Detlef W.

2015-10-01

The utilization of solar light for the photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic production of molecular hydrogen from water is a scientific and technical challenge. Semiconductors with suitable properties to promote solar-driven water splitting are a desideratum. A hitherto rarely investigated group of semiconductors are ferrites with the empirical formula MFe2O4 and related compounds. This contribution summarizes the published results of the experimental investigations on the photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties of these compounds. It will be shown that the potential of this group of compounds in regard to the production of solar hydrogen has not been fully explored yet.

Rapid Formation of 1D Titanate Nanotubes Using Alkaline Hydrothermal Treatment and Its Photocatalytic Performance

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Chin Wei Lai

2015-01-01

Full Text Available One-dimensional (1D titanate nanotubes (TNT were successfully synthesized using alkaline hydrothermal treatment of commercial TiO2 nanopowders in a Teflon lined stainless steel autoclave at 150°C. The minimum time required for the formation of the titanate nanotubes was 9 h significantly. After the hydrothermal processing, the layered titanate was washed with acid and water in order to control the amount of Na+ ions remaining in the sample solutions. In this study, the effect of different reaction durations in a range of 3 h to 24 h on the formation of nanotubes was carried out. As the reaction duration is extended, the changes in structure from particle to tubular shapes of alkaline treated TiO2 were obtained via scanning electron microscope (SEM. Also, the significant impact on the phase transformation and crystal structure of TNT was characterized through XRD and Raman analysis. Indeed, the photocatalytic activity of TNT was investigated through the degradation of methyl orange aqueous solution under the ultraviolet light irradiation. As a result, TNT with reaction duration at 6 h has a better photocatalytic performance than other samples which was correlated to the higher crystallinity of the samples as shown in XRD patterns.

Thin-film fixed-bed reactor for solar photocatalytic inactivation of Aeromonas hydrophila: influence of water quality

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Khan Sadia J

2012-11-01

Full Text Available Abstract Background Controlling fish disease is one of the major concerns in contemporary aquaculture. The use of antibiotics or chemical disinfection cannot provide a healthy aquaculture system without residual effects. Water quality is also important in determining the success or failure of fish production. Several solar photocatalytic reactors have been used to treat drinking water or waste water without leaving chemical residues. This study has investigated the impact of several key aspects of water quality on the inactivation of the pathogenic bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila using a pilot-scale thin-film fixed-bed reactor (TFFBR system. Results The level of inactivation of Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 35654 was determined using a TFFBR with a photocatalytic area of 0.47 m2 under the influence of various water quality variables (pH, conductivity, turbidity and colour under high solar irradiance conditions (980–1100 W m-2, at a flow rate of 4.8 L h-1 through the reactor. Bacterial enumeration were obtained through conventional plate count using trypticase soy agar media, cultured in conventional aerobic conditions to detect healthy cells and under ROS-neutralised conditions to detect both healthy and sub-lethally injured (oxygen-sensitive cells. The results showed that turbidity has a major influence on solar photocatalytic inactivation of A. hydrophila. Humic acids appear to decrease TiO2 effectiveness under full sunlight and reduce microbial inactivation. pH in the range 7–9 and salinity both have no major effect on the extent of photoinactivation or sub-lethal injury. Conclusions This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the TFFBR in the inactivation of Aeromonas hydrophila under the influence of several water quality variables at high solar irradiance, providing an opportunity for the application of solar photocatalysis in aquaculture systems, as long as turbidity remains low.

Metal-Organic Framework-Stabilized CO2/Water Interfacial Route for Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion.

Science.gov (United States)

Luo, Tian; Zhang, Jianling; Li, Wei; He, Zhenhong; Sun, Xiaofu; Shi, Jinbiao; Shao, Dan; Zhang, Bingxing; Tan, Xiuniang; Han, Buxing

2017-11-29

Here, we propose a CO 2 /water interfacial route for photocatalytic CO 2 conversion by utilizing a metal-organic framework (MOF) as both an emulsifier and a catalyst. The CO 2 reduction occurring at the CO 2 /water interface produces formate with remarkably enhanced efficiency as compared with that in conventional solvent. The route is efficient, facile, adjustable, and environmentally benign, which is applicable for the CO 2 transformation photocatalyzed by different kinds of MOFs.

A comparative view of radiation, photo and photocatalytically induced oxidation of water pollutants

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Getoff, N [Institute for Theoretical Chemistry and Radiation Chemistry, Univ. of Vienna, Vienna (Austria)

1997-10-01

Water resources are presently overloaded with biologically resistant (refractory) pollutants. Several oxidation methods have been developed for their degradation, the most efficient of which is irradiation treatment, particularly that based on e-beam processing in the presence of O{sub 2}/O{sub 3}. The next-best method is photoinduced pollutant oxidation with VUV- and/or UV-light, using H{sub 2}O{sub 2} or H{sub 2}O{sub 2}/O{sub 3} as an additional source of OH radicals. The photocatalytic method, using e.g. TiO{sub 2} as a catalyst in combination with oxidation agents such as H{sub 2}O{sub 2} or H{sub 2}O{sub 2}/O{sub 3}, is also recommended. The suitability of these three methods is illustrated by examples and they are briefly discussed and compared on the basis of the energy consumption and efficiency. Other methods, such as ozone treatment, the photo-Fenton process, ultrasonic and electrochemical treatments, as well as the well known biological process and thermal oxidation of refractory pollutants, are briefly mentioned. (author). 36 refs, 9 figs, 3 tabs.

Photocatalytic performance of Cu-doped TiO2 nanofibers treated by the hydrothermal synthesis and air-thermal treatment

Science.gov (United States)

Wu, Ming-Chung; Wu, Po-Yeh; Lin, Ting-Han; Lin, Tz-Feng

2018-02-01

Series of transition metal-doped TiO2 (metal/TiO2) is prepared by combining the hydrothermal synthesis and air-thermal treatment without any reduction process. The selected transition metal precursors, including Ag, Au, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pd, Pt, Y, and Zn, were individually doped into TiO2 nanofibers to evaluate the photocatalytic degradation activity and photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Consider the photocatalytic performance of these synthesized metal/TiO2 under UV-A irradiation, copper doped TiO2 nanofibers (Cu/TiO2 NFs) was chosen for further study due to its extraordinary reactivity. Systematical studies were spread to optimize the doping concentration and the calcination condition for much higher photocatalytic activity Cu/TiO2 NFs. In the photocatalytic degradation test, 0.5 mol%-Cu/TiO2 NFs calcined at 650 °C exhibits the highest activity, which is even higher than commercial TiO2-AEROXIDE® TiO2 P25 under UV-A irradiation. The synthesized 0.5 mol%-Cu/TiO2-650 NFs also have the capability in the photocatalytic hydrogen production. The hydrogen evolution rates are 200 μmol/g·h under UV-A irradiation and 280 μmol/g·h under UV-B irradiation. The density of state calculated by CASTEP for Cu/TiO2 indicates that Cu doping contributes to the states near valence band edge and narrows the band gap. The disclosed process in this study is industrial safe, convenient and cost-effective. We further produce a significant amount of TiO2-based catalysts without any hydrogen reduction treatment.

Solar photocatalytic oxidation of recalcitrant natural metabolic by-products of amoxicillin biodegradation

OpenAIRE

João Pereira; Ana Reis; Vera Homem; José Silva; Arminda Alves; Maria Teresa Borges; Rui Boaventura; Vítor Vilar; Olga Pastor Nunes

2014-01-01

The contamination of the aquatic environment by non-metabolized and metabolized antibiotic residues has brought the necessity of alternative treatment steps to current water decontamination technologies. This work assessed the feasibility of using a multi-stage treatment system for amoxicillin (AMX) spiked solutions combining: i) a biological treatment process using an enriched culture to metabolize AMX, with ii) a solar photocatalytic system to achieve the removal of the metabolized transfor...

Novel Photocatalytic Reactor Development for Removal of Hydrocarbons from Water

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Morgan Adams

2008-01-01

Full Text Available Hydrocarbons contamination of the marine environment generated by the offshore oil and gas industry is generated from a number of sources including oil contaminated drill cuttings and produced waters. The removal of hydrocarbons from both these sources is one of the most significant challenges facing this sector as it moves towards zero emissions. The application of a number of techniques which have been used to successfully destroy hydrocarbons in produced water and waste water effluents has previously been reported. This paper reports the application of semiconductor photocatalysis as a final polishing step for the removal of hydrocarbons from two waste effluent sources. Two reactor concepts were considered: a simple flat plate immobilised film unit, and a new rotating drum photocatalytic reactor. Both units proved to be effective in removing residual hydrocarbons from the effluent with the drum reactor reducing the hydrocarbon content by 90% under 10 minutes.

Photocatalytic Nanocomposites for the Protection of European Architectural Heritage

Science.gov (United States)

Roveri, Marco; Goidanich, Sara; Toniolo, Lucia

2018-01-01

In the field of stone protection, the introduction of inorganic nanoparticles, such as TiO2, ZnO, and Ag in polymeric blends can enhance the protective action of pristine treatments, as well as confer additional properties (photocatalytic, antifouling, and antibacterial). In the framework of the “Nano-Cathedral” European project, nanostructured photocatalytic protective treatments were formulated by using different TiO2 nanoparticles, solvents, and silane/siloxane systems in the blends. The results about the characterization and application of two promising nano-TiO2 based products applied on Apuan marble and Ajarte limestone are here reported, aiming at investigating the complex system “treatment/stone-substrate”. The nanocomposites show better performances when compared to a commercial reference siloxane based protective treatment, resulting in different performances once applied on different carbonatic substrates, with very low and high open porosity, confirming the necessity of correlating precisely the characteristics of the stone material to those of the protective formulations. In particular, the TiO2 photocatalytic behavior is strictly linked to the amount of available nanoparticles and to the active surface area. The alkyl silane oligomers of the water-based formulation have a good penetration into the microstructure of Ajarte limestone, whereas the solvent-based and small size monomeric formulation shows better results for Apuan marble, granting a good coverage of the pores. The encouraging results obtained so far in lab will be confirmed by monitoring tests aiming at assessing the effectiveness of the treatments applied in pilot sites of historical Gothic Cathedrals. PMID:29301338

Reusability of photocatalytic TiO{sub 2} and ZnO nanoparticles immobilized in poly(vinylidene difluoride)-co-trifluoroethylene

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Teixeira, Sara, E-mail: sara.teixeira@nano.tu-dresden.de [Institute for Materials Science and Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden (Germany); Martins, P.M. [Centro/Departamento de Física da Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga (Portugal); Centro de Engenharia Biológica, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga (Portugal); Lanceros-Méndez, S. [Centro/Departamento de Física da Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga (Portugal); BCMaterials, Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio (Spain); IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao (Spain); Kühn, Klaus [Institute for Materials Science and Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden (Germany); Cuniberti, Gianaurelio [Institute for Materials Science and Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden (Germany); Dresden Center for Computational Materials Science (DCCMS), TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden (Germany); Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden, TU Dresden, 01062 Dresden (Germany)

2016-10-30

Highlights: • Performance of immobilized TiO{sub 2} and ZnO nanoparticles in P(VDF-TrFE) membranes. • Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under UV radiation. • Assessment of the reusability of the nanocomposites. • Ecofriendly and cost-effective process for water treatment. - Abstract: Pollutants present in water are increasingly becoming an important public health issue. After their transportation across the sewer network they can pass through the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) mostly unchanged because WWTPs are not designed to remove pollutants present at trace levels. Conventional treatments are therefore ineffective. Immobilized photocatalytic systems are thus an advantage for the treatment of contaminated water, because they are ecofriendly, cost-effective and allow reusability. This work reports on TiO{sub 2} and ZnO commercial nanoparticles immobilized in poly(vinylidene difluoride)-co-trifluoroethylene (P(VDF-TrFE)). Nanocomposites of P(VDF-TrFE) with different concentrations of TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles (5, 10, and 15 wt.%) and ZnO nanoparticles (15 wt.%) were produced by solvent casting and tested on the degradation of methylene blue, a model organic dye. Each nanocomposite was tested three times to assess its reusability. It is shown that increasing the photocatalyst concentration results in higher photocatalytic efficiencies; the degradation rates of 15% of TiO{sub 2} and ZnO are similar; and the photoactivity decreases 6%, 16%, 13%, and 11% after three utilizations, for TiO{sub 2} 5%, TiO{sub 2} 10%, TiO{sub 2} 15%, and ZnO 15%, respectively. Thus, the low decrease in the photocatalytic activity after three uses makes the nanocomposites suitable for applications in which reusability is an important key factor.

Biofiltration using C. fluminea for E.coli removal from water: Comparison with ozonation and photocatalytic oxidation.

Science.gov (United States)

Gomes, João F; Lopes, Ana; Gonçalves, Daniel; Luxo, Cristina; Gmurek, Marta; Costa, Raquel; Quinta-Ferreira, Rosa M; Martins, Rui C; Matos, Ana

2018-06-06

Corbicula fluminea, an Asian clam, is one of the worst invasive species in Europe that can survive in very adverse environmental conditions. Despite its negative impacts, the species also has the capacity to bioaccumulate heavy metals, contaminants and can be exploited for wastewater treatment purposes. The capacity of the Asian clam to remove Escherichia coli, used as fecal contamination indicator, was analyzed. Conventional wastewater treatment plants are not suitable to remove bacteria, thus resulting in treated municipal wastewater with high bacterial loads. E. coli clearance rate was analyzed as function of the number of clams. The bivalves can remove bacteria until concentrations below the detection limit in about 6 h. The adsorption on the clam shells' and bioaccumulation on the soft tissues were also analyzed. The depuration of clams along 48 h were analyzed revealing that no bacteria was detected in the water. Thus, these results suggest that Asian clam can bioprocess E. coli. On the other hand, results obtained by this methodology were compared with ozonation and photocatalytic oxidation using TiO 2 , Ag, Au, Pd-TiO 2 . In all treatments it was possible to achieve concentrations of E. coli below the detection limit. However, photocatalytic oxidation demands about 4700 folds more energy than ozonation, besides the costs associated with catalysts. Comparing complexity of ozonation with biofiltration, this study suggests that application of biofiltration using C. fluminea can be a suitable solution to minimize the presence of bacteria in wastewater, reducing environmental and economic impacts. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Solar photocatalysis - a possible step in drinking water treatment

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ljubas, Davor

2005-01-01

Possibility of the use of solar radiation for reduction of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) content in natural lake water, as a source for drinking water preparation, was the topic of this research. Solar radiation alone does not have enough energy for sufficient degradation of NOM, but in combination with heterogeneous photocatalyst-titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), with or without other chemicals, the degradation potential could increase. In specific geographical conditions in Republic of Croatia, e.g. Adriatic islands or Dalmatia, solar radiation could be used for photocatalytic degradation of natural organic matter (NOM) in surface waters and therewith lighten the process of preparing them to the potable water. Specific quality of the geographical locality appears in fact that it is a very attractive tourist destination, especially in period June-September. In this period the drinking water demand is the biggest and, fortunately, the intensity of the solar radiation, too. So, there is a proportion between the drinking water demand and solar radiation available for the use in drinking water treatment. A number of tests with lake water exposed to solar radiation in non-concentrating reactors were performed and photodegradation of NOM for various combinations of doses and crystal forms of TiO 2 with H 2 O 2 was studied. Irradiation intensity was estimated from global solar radiation measurements. The best performance for the NOM degradation had combination of 1 g/L TiO 2 both anatase and rutile+solar radiation+H 2 O 2 , but - economically - it was not the best combination. An estimation of the biodegradation potential of dissolved organic matter after the photocatalytic step is given, too

Process water treatment in Canada's oil sands industry : 2 : a review of emerging technologies

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Allen, E.W.

2008-01-01

This review was conducted to identify candidate treatment technologies for treating oil sands process water. The oil sands industry in Canada uses large volumes of fresh water in order to extract bitumen deposits. The development of process water treatment technologies has become a critical issue for the industry, particularly as oil sand production is expected to triple in the next decade. However, treatment technologies must be adapted to consider the fouling potential of bitumens and fine clays as well as the effect of alkaline process water on treatment performance. The review included developments in chemical modifications to membranes and adsorbents designed to improve pollutant removal and reduce fouling; hybridization technologies designed to enhance the biological treatment of toxic feedwaters; recent advances in photocatalytic oxidation technologies for organic compounds; and new designs for large-scale treatment wetlands for polluted waste waters. It was concluded that major knowledge gaps must be optimized and preliminary studies must be conducted in order to understand how the treatment technologies will be affected by the chemical and physical characteristics of oil sands process water. 188 refs., 8 tabs

Isolation, Characterization, and Environmental Application of Bio-Based Materials as Auxiliaries in Photocatalytic Processes

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Davide Palma

2018-05-01

Full Text Available Sustainable alternative substrates for advanced applications represent an increasing field of research that attracts the attention of worldwide experts (in accordance with green chemistry principles. In this context, bio-based substances (BBS isolated from urban composted biowaste were purified and characterized. Additionally, these materials were tested as auxiliaries in advanced oxidizing photocatalytic processes for the abatement of organic contaminants in aqueous medium. Results highlighted the capability of these substances to enhance efficiency in water remediation treatments under mild conditions, favoring the entire light-driven photocatalytic process.

Intercorrelated Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} nanoparticles decorated with graphic carbon nitride: Enhanced stability and photocatalytic activities for water treatment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ren, Jia; Chai, Yuanyuan; Liu, Qianqian; Zhang, Lu; Dai, Wei-Lin, E-mail: wldai@fudan.edu.cn

2017-05-01

Highlights: • Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} nanoparticles decorated with graphite-like carbon nitride material (g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}). • Synthesized by a template-free in situ precipitation method. • Excellent (7 times higher) photooxidation ability. • Much more stable than pure Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} in the photodegradation process. • Formation of heterojunction between Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} and g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} contributed to the separation efficiency. - Abstract: The method of decorating Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} nanoparticles with carbon nitride material (g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}) is demonstrated as an efficient pathway to remarkably improve the stability and photocatalytic performance of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} nanoparticles which have been widely used in photocatalysis, but limited by the instability. The improved material herein results in the largely enhanced photocatalytic performance for water purification under visible light irradiation, which was nearly 7 times as high as that of pure Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}. Meanwhile, the as-obtained materials show the unique stable property, mainly contributed by the protection effect of decorated g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} sheet. Additionally, the radical trapping experiments revealed that the introduction of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} transformed the photocatalytic mechanism to some degree, where ·O{sub 2}{sup −} played a more important role. The tremendous enhancement in catalytic performance may be attributed to the larger surface area, controllable particle size and the synergistic effect between Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} and g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}, promoting the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The decorating system can in principle be broadly put into use for unstable photocatalysts.

Research Update: Photoelectrochemical water splitting and photocatalytic hydrogen production using ferrites (MFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}) under visible light irradiation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Dillert, Ralf [Institut für Technische Chemie, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstr. 3, 30167 Hannover (Germany); Laboratorium für Nano- und Quantenengineering, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, Schneiderberg 39, 30167 Hannover (Germany); Taffa, Dereje H.; Wark, Michael [Institut für Chemie, Technische Chemie, Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg (Germany); Bredow, Thomas [Mulliken Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Universität Bonn, Beringstraße 4, 53115 Bonn (Germany); Bahnemann, Detlef W. [Institut für Technische Chemie, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstr. 3, 30167 Hannover (Germany); Laboratory for Nanocomposite Materials, Department of Photonics, Faculty of Physics, Saint-Petersburg State University, Ulianovskaia Str. 3, Peterhof, Saint-Petersburg 198504 (Russian Federation)

2015-10-01

The utilization of solar light for the photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic production of molecular hydrogen from water is a scientific and technical challenge. Semiconductors with suitable properties to promote solar-driven water splitting are a desideratum. A hitherto rarely investigated group of semiconductors are ferrites with the empirical formula MFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} and related compounds. This contribution summarizes the published results of the experimental investigations on the photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties of these compounds. It will be shown that the potential of this group of compounds in regard to the production of solar hydrogen has not been fully explored yet.

Effect of Rh oxide as a cocatalyst over Bi{sub 0.5}Y{sub 0.5}VO{sub 4} on photocatalytic overall water splitting

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chen, Wei, E-mail: chanwee@henu.edu.cn [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan (China); Yang, Bingbing; Yu, Qingtao; Mao, Liqun [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, Henan (China); Fan, Zeyun [Research Center for Combustion and Environmental Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240 (China); Wang, Qizhao [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070 (China); Shangguan, Wenfeng, E-mail: shangguan@sjtu.edu.cn [Research Center for Combustion and Environmental Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240 (China)

2015-11-15

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • The effect of cocatalysts as active sites for water splitting was investigated. • Rh{sub 2}O{sub 3} was found to give the highest photocatalytic activity. • Compared to Pt, NiO, Rh{sub 2}O{sub 3} can reduce more overpotential of O{sub 2} evolution. • Rh{sub 2}O{sub 3} also promote the separation of electrons and holes apparently. - Abstract: Pt, Rh{sub 2}O{sub 3}, NiO nanoparticles as cocatalysts were loaded on BYV solid solution photocatalysts by an impregnation method to promote photocatalytic activity for overall water splitting. The cocatalysts loading could enhance the photocatalytic activity significantly. The (photo)electrochemical measurements and HR-TEM, PL analyses revealed that the effect of cocatalysts acted as active sites depended on the efficient separation of photoinduced charge carriers as well as the reduction of the overpotential of O{sub 2} evolution. Among the cocatalysts in this study, Rh{sub 2}O{sub 3} was found to give the highest photocatalytic activity. This is because, compared to Pt and NiO, Rh{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles are able to not only reduce more overpotential of O{sub 2} evolution, but also extremely promote the separation of electrons and holes. 0.5 wt% Rh{sub 2}O{sub 3}/BYV exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity for H{sub 2} and O{sub 2} evolution, reaching 104.4 μmol/h and 50.9 μmol/h, respectively. The present work will be useful to instruct cocatalyst loading for obtaining the photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity for overall water splitting.

Mixed Cd-Zn sulfides / Pt-TiO2 composites : bottlenecks limiting efficiency of photocatalytic water reduction

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Litke, A.; Weber, Th.; Hofmann, J.P.; Hensen, E.J.M.

2016-01-01

Visible-light driven photocatalytic water reduction on composite materials consisting of platinized titania (Pt-TiO2) and transition metal sulfides (CdS or Cd0.5Zn0.5S) was investigated in detail. Sulfides were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and room-temperature precipitation. The parameters

Design improvement and performance evaluation of solar photocatalytic reactor for industrial effluent treatment.

Science.gov (United States)

Nair, Ranjith G; Bharadwaj, P J; Samdarshi, S K

2016-12-01

This work reports the details of the design components and materials used in a linear compound parabolic trough reactor constructed with an aim to use the photocatalyst for solar photocatalytic applications. A compound parabolic trough reactor has been designed and engineered to exploit both UV and visible part of the solar irradiation. The developed compound parabolic trough reactor could receive almost 88% of UV radiation along with a major part of visible radiation. The performance of the reactor has been evaluated in terms of degradation of a probe pollutant using the parameters such as rate constant, residence time and photonic efficiency. An attempt has been made to assess the performance in different ranges of solar spectrum. Finally the developed reactor has been employed for the photocatalytic treatment of a paper mill effluent using Degussa P25 as the photocatalyst. The paper mill effluent collected from Nagaon paper mill, Assam, India has been treated under both batch mode and continuous mode using Degussa P25 photocatalyst under artificial and natural solar radiation, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation kinetics of the paper mill effluent has been determined using the reduction in total organic carbon (TOC) values of the effluent. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Solar Photocatalytic Removal of Chemical and Bacterial Pollutants from Water Using Pt/TiO2-Coated Ceramic Tiles

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

S. P. Devipriya

2012-01-01

Full Text Available Semiconductor photocatalysis has become an increasingly promising technology in environmental wastewater treatment. The present work reports a simple technique for the preparation of platinum-deposited TiO2 catalysts and its immobilization on ordinary ceramic tiles. The Pt/TiO2 is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS. Deposition of Pt on TiO2 extends the optical absorption of the latter to the visible region which makes it attractive for solar energy application. Optimum loading of Pt on TiO2 was found to be 0.5%. The Pt/TiO2 is coated on ceramic tiles and immobilized. This catalyst was found effective for the solar photocatalytic removal of chemical and bacterial pollutants from water. Once the parameters are optimized, the Pt/TiO2/tile can find application in swimming pools, hospitals, water theme parks, and even industries for the decontamination of water.

Photocatalytic Hydrogen or Oxygen Evolution from Water over S- or N-Doped TiO2 under Visible Light

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Kazumoto Nishijima

2008-01-01

Full Text Available S- or N-doping of TiO2 powder having an anatase or rutile phase extended the photocatalytic activity for water oxidation and reduction under UV light and visible light irradiation. For the reduction of water, anatase-doped TiO2 showed higher level of activity than that of doped TiO2 having a rutile phase using ethanol as an electron donor. Furthermore, the activity level of S-doped TiO2 for hydrogen evolution was higher than that of N-doped TiO2 photocatalysts under visible light. Photocatalytic oxidation of water on doped TiO2 having a rutile phase proceeded with fairly high efficiency when Fe3+ ions were used as electron acceptors compared to that on doped TiO2 having an anatase phase. In addition, water splitting under visible light irradiation was achieved by construction of a Z-scheme photocatalysis system employing the doped TiO2 having anatase and rutile phases for H2 and O2 evolution and the I−/IO3− redox couple as an electron relay.

Photocatalytic treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater using new multiwall-carbon nanotubes/TiO{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2} nanocomposites

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Czech, Bożena, E-mail: bczech@hektor.umcs.lublin.pl [Department of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin (Poland); Buda, Waldemar [Department of Adsorption, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin (Poland)

2015-02-15

For the photocatalytic removal of bisphenol A (BPA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) from water solution a new multiwall-carbon nanotubes and TiO{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2} nanocomposites (MWCNT–TiO{sub 2}–SiO{sub 2}) were applied. Nanocomposites with the addition of 0.15–17.8 wt% MWCNT show high potential for the removal of both pollutants. The starting concentration of each contaminant was halved during 20 min of UVA irradiation. The decomposition process of CBZ over investigated nanocomposites proceeded differently than it was observed for the classical photocatalyst P25. The kinetics of the removal followed as a pseudo-first order regime with the k{sub 1} in range 0.0827–0.1751 min{sup −1} for BPA and 0.0131–0.0743 min{sup −1} for CBZ. Toxicity to Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna was significantly reduced indicating formation of non-toxic products of photooxidation of tested contaminants. - Highlights: • MWCNT enhanced TiO{sub 2} activity in UVA and the removal of BPA and CBZ. • At least 50% PPCPs removal during 30 min of photocatalytic treatment was observed. • MWCNT changed the mechanism of CBZ decomposition but not BPA. • Decomposition products of both BPA and CBZ possessed low toxicity. • Photocatalysis may be recommended for the initial treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.

Quantification of photocatalytic oxygenation of human blood.

Science.gov (United States)

Subrahmanyam, Aryasomayajula; Thangaraj, Paul R; Kanuru, Chandrasekhar; Jayakumar, Albert; Gopal, Jayashree

2014-04-01

Photocatalytic oxygenation of human blood is an emerging concept based on the principle of photocatalytic splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen. This communication reports: (i) a design of a photocatalytic cell (PC) that separates the blood from UV (incident) radiation source, (ii) a pH, temperature and flow controlled circuit designed for quantifying the oxygenation of human blood by photocatalysis and (iii) measuring the current efficacy of ITO/TiO2 nano thin films in oxygenating human blood in a dynamic circuit in real time. The average increase in oxygen saturation was around 5% above baseline compared to control (p<0.0005). We believe this is one of the first attempts to quantify photocatalytic oxygenation of human blood under controlled conditions. Copyright © 2013 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anti-Microbial and Self-Cleaning Properties of Photocatalytic Surface Treatments and their Potential Use for Space-Based Applications

Data.gov (United States)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration — The purpose of this project was to implement a method to assess self-cleaning properties of commercially available photocatalytic surface treatments for their...

Atom beam sputtered Ag-TiO{sub 2} plasmonic nanocomposite thin films for photocatalytic applications

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Singh, Jaspal; Sahu, Kavita [School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, NewDelhi 110078 (India); Pandey, A. [Solid State Physics Laboratory, Defence Research and Development Organization, Timarpur, Delhi 110054 (India); Kumar, Mohit [Institute of Physics, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751005 (India); Ghosh, Tapas; Satpati, B. [Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, HBNI, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata 700064 (India); Som, T.; Varma, S. [Institute of Physics, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751005 (India); Avasthi, D.K. [Amity Institute of Nanotechnology, Noida 201313, Uttar Pradesh (India); Mohapatra, Satyabrata, E-mail: smiuac@gmail.com [School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka, NewDelhi 110078 (India)

2017-07-31

The development of nanocomposite coatings with highly enhanced photocatalytic activity is important for photocatalytic purification of water and air. We report on the synthesis of Ag-TiO{sub 2} nanocomposite thin films with highly enhanced photocatalytic activity by atom beam co-sputtering technique. The effects of Ag concentration on the structural, morphological, optical, plasmonic and photocatalytic properties of the nanocomposite thin films were investigated. UV–visible DRS studies revealed the presence of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak characteristic of Ag nanoparticles together with the excitonic absorption peak originating from TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles in the nanocomposites. XRD studies showed that the nanocomposite thin films consist of Ag nanoparticles and rutile TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles. The synthesized Ag-TiO{sub 2} nanocomposite thin films with 5 at% Ag were found to exhibit highly enhanced photocatalytic activity for sun light driven photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in water, indicating their potential application in water purification.

Preparation of NaTaO3 by Spray Pyrolysis and Evaluation of Apparent Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Production from Water

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Hyun Woo Kang

2008-01-01

Full Text Available NaTaO3 photocatalyst was prepared by spray pyrolysis process and tested as photocatalyst for water splitting under UV light. Precursor solution was prepared from NaNO3 and Ta(OC2H55 in nitric acid solution and spray-pyrolyzed in air at between 973 and 1273 K. Considerable enhancement of photocatalytic activity was achieved by loading 0.05∼0.2 wt% of NiO on the surface of NaTaO3. The NiO loading was more effective on the NaTaO3 synthesized by spray pyrolysis in comparison with that synthesized by solid-state reaction. The quantum yield (QY of NiO/NaTaO3 photocatalyst was measured by chemical actinometry using potassium ferrioxalate and compared with the apparent photocatalytic activities (APA which would be more useful for the purpose of photocatalytic reactor design than the quantum yield. The apparent photocatalytic activity (APA was defined by the rate of hydrogen production divided by weight of catalyst, volume of reactant mixture, duration of irradiation, and power of UV lamp. The validity of the apparent photocatalytic activity (APA was discussed based on our results and reported activities of NaTaO3 photocatalyst loaded with or without NiO.

Bibliography of work on the photocatalytic removal of hazardous compounds from water and air

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Blake, D.M.

1994-05-01

This is a bibliography of information in the open literature on work that has been done to date on the photocatalytic oxidation of compounds, principally organic compounds. The goal of the listing is removing hazardous oompounds from water or air. It contains lists of substances and literature citations. The bibliography includes information obtained through the middle of 1993 and some selected references for the balance of that year.

The effect of water presence on the photocatalytic oxidation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m-xylene in the gas-phase

Science.gov (United States)

Korologos, Christos A.; Philippopoulos, Constantine J.; Poulopoulos, Stavros G.

2011-12-01

In the present work, the gas-solid heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m-xylene (BTEX) over UV-irradiated titanium dioxide was studied in an annular reactor operated in the CSTR (continuous stirred-tank reactor) mode. GC-FID and GC-MS were used for analysing reactor inlet and outlet streams. Initial BTEX concentrations were in the low parts per million (ppmv) range, whereas the water concentration was in the range of 0-35,230 ppmv and the residence time varied from 50 to 210 s. The effect of water addition on the photocatalytic process showed strong dependence on the type of the BTEX and the water vapour concentration. The increase in residence time resulted in a considerable increase in the conversion achieved for all compounds and experimental conditions. There was a clear interaction between residence time and water presence regarding the effect on conversions achieved. It was established that conversions over 95% could be achieved by adjusting appropriately the experimental conditions and especially the water concentration in the reactor. In all cases, no by-products were detected above the detection limit and carbon dioxide was the only compound detected. Finally, various Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic models have been tested in the analysis of the experimental data obtained. The kinetic data obtained confirmed that water had an active participation in the photocatalytic reactions of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m-xylene since the model involving reaction of BTEX and water adsorbed on different active sites yielded the most successful fitting to the experimental results for the first three compounds, whereas the kinetic model based on the assumption that reaction between VOC and water dissociatively adsorbed on the photocatalyst takes place was the most appropriate in the case of m-xylene.

Non-thermal plasma-induced photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol in water.

Science.gov (United States)

Hao, Xiao Long; Zhou, Ming Hua; Lei, Le Cheng

2007-03-22

TiO(2) photocatalyst (P-25) (50mgL(-1)) was tentatively introduced into pulsed high-voltage discharge process for non-thermal plasma-induced photocatalytic degradation of the representative mode organic pollutant parachlorophenol (4-CP), including other compounds phenol and methyl red in water. The experimental results showed that rate constant of 4-CP degradation, energy efficiency for 4-CP removal and TOC removal with TiO(2) were obviously increased. Pulsed high-voltage discharge process with TiO(2) had a promoted effect for the degradation of these pollutants under a broad range of liquid conductivity. Furthermore, the apparent formation rates of chemically active species (e.g., ozone and hydrogen peroxide) were increased, the hydrogen peroxide formation rate from 1.10x10(-6) to 1.50x10(-6)Ms(-1), the ozone formation rate from 1.99x10(-8) to 2.35x10(-8)Ms(-1), respectively. In addition, this process had no influence on the photocatalytic properties of TiO(2). The introduction of TiO(2) photocatalyst into pulsed discharge plasma process in the utilizing of ultraviolet radiation and electric field in pulsed discharge plasma process enhanced the yields of chemically active species, which were available for highly efficient removal and mineralization of organic pollutants.

Non-thermal plasma-induced photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol in water

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hao Xiaolong; Zhou Ming Hua; Lei Lecheng

2007-01-01

TiO 2 photocatalyst (P-25) (50 mg L -1 ) was tentatively introduced into pulsed high-voltage discharge process for non-thermal plasma-induced photocatalytic degradation of the representative mode organic pollutant parachlorophenol (4-CP), including other compounds phenol and methyl red in water. The experimental results showed that rate constant of 4-CP degradation, energy efficiency for 4-CP removal and TOC removal with TiO 2 were obviously increased. Pulsed high-voltage discharge process with TiO 2 had a promoted effect for the degradation of these pollutants under a broad range of liquid conductivity. Furthermore, the apparent formation rates of chemically active species (e.g., ozone and hydrogen peroxide) were increased, the hydrogen peroxide formation rate from 1.10 x 10 -6 to 1.50 x 10 -6 M s -1 , the ozone formation rate from 1.99 x 10 -8 to 2.35 x 10 -8 M s -1 , respectively. In addition, this process had no influence on the photocatalytic properties of TiO 2 . The introduction of TiO 2 photocatalyst into pulsed discharge plasma process in the utilizing of ultraviolet radiation and electric field in pulsed discharge plasma process enhanced the yields of chemically active species, which were available for highly efficient removal and mineralization of organic pollutants

Assessment of the roles of reactive oxygen species in the UV and visible light photocatalytic degradation of cyanotoxins and water taste and odor compounds using C-TiO2.

Science.gov (United States)

Fotiou, Theodora; Triantis, Theodoros M; Kaloudis, Triantafyllos; O'Shea, Kevin E; Dionysiou, Dionysios D; Hiskia, Anastasia

2016-03-01

Visible light (VIS) photocatalysis has large potential as a sustainable water treatment process, however the reaction pathways and degradation processes of organic pollutants are not yet clearly defined. The presence of cyanobacteria cause water quality problems since several genera can produce potent cyanotoxins, harmful to human health. In addition, cyanobacteria produce taste and odor compounds, which pose serious aesthetic problems in drinking water. Although photocatalytic degradation of cyanotoxins and taste and odor compounds have been reported under UV-A light in the presence of TiO2, limited studies have been reported on their degradation pathways by VIS photocatalysis of these problematic compounds. The main objectives of this work were to study the VIS photocatalytic degradation process, define the reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved and elucidate the reaction mechanisms. We report carbon doped TiO2 (C-TiO2) under VIS leads to the slow degradation of cyanotoxins, microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and cylindrospermopsin (CYN), while taste and odor compounds, geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol, were not appreciably degraded. Further studies were carried-out employing several specific radical scavengers (potassium bromide, isopropyl alcohol, sodium azide, superoxide dismutase and catalase) and probes (coumarin) to assess the role of different ROS (hydroxyl radical OH, singlet oxygen (1)O2, superoxide radical anion [Formula: see text] ) in the degradation processes. Reaction pathways of MC-LR and CYN were defined through identification and monitoring of intermediates using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for VIS in comparison with UV-A photocatalytic treatment. The effects of scavengers and probes on the degradation process under VIS, as well as the differences in product distributions under VIS and UV-A, suggested that the main species in VIS photocatalysis is [Formula: see text] , with OH and (1)O2 playing minor roles in the degradation

Photocatalytic Conversion of Nitrogen to Ammonia with Water on Surface Oxygen Vacancies of Titanium Dioxide.

Science.gov (United States)

Hirakawa, Hiroaki; Hashimoto, Masaki; Shiraishi, Yasuhiro; Hirai, Takayuki

2017-08-09

Ammonia (NH 3 ) is an essential chemical in modern society. It is currently manufactured by the Haber-Bosch process using H 2 and N 2 under extremely high-pressure (>200 bar) and high-temperature (>673 K) conditions. Photocatalytic NH 3 production from water and N 2 at atmospheric pressure and room temperature is ideal. Several semiconductor photocatalysts have been proposed, but all suffer from low efficiency. Here we report that a commercially available TiO 2 with a large number of surface oxygen vacancies, when photoirradiated by UV light in pure water with N 2 , successfully produces NH 3 . The active sites for N 2 reduction are the Ti 3+ species on the oxygen vacancies. These species act as adsorption sites for N 2 and trapping sites for the photoformed conduction band electrons. These properties therefore promote efficient reduction of N 2 to NH 3 . The solar-to-chemical energy conversion efficiency is 0.02%, which is the highest efficiency among the early reported photocatalytic systems. This noble-metal-free TiO 2 system therefore shows a potential as a new artificial photosynthesis for green NH 3 production.

Treatment of atrazine by integrating photocatalytic and biological processes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chan, C.Y.; Tao, S.; Dawson, R.; Wong, P.K.

2004-01-01

This research examines the degradation of atrazine by photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) under different experimental conditions. Deisopropylatrazine, deethylatrazine and deethyldeisopropylatrazine were formed as major intermediates based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The reaction mixture was found to be toxic towards two bioassays, i.e. the Microtox[reg] and amphipods survival tests even when atrazine was completely degraded by PCO within 2 h under optimized conditions. The results indicate that adding H 2 O 2 could significantly enhance the degradation of atrazine by PCO. Ammeline, ammelide and cyanuric acid (CA) became the major intermediates/products as detected by high performance liquid chromatography from 6th to the 40th h of PCO treatment. After 72 h PCO treatment, only CA was detectable in the reaction mixture. Further degradation of CA was carried out by a newly isolated CA-degrading bacterium, Sphingomonas capsulata. The photochemical pretreatment integrated with microbial degradation lead to the complete degradation and detoxification of atrazine

An enhanced photocatalytic response of nanometric TiO2 wrapping of Au nanoparticles for eco-friendly water applications.

Science.gov (United States)

Scuderi, Viviana; Impellizzeri, Giuliana; Romano, Lucia; Scuderi, Mario; Brundo, Maria V; Bergum, Kristin; Zimbone, Massimo; Sanz, Ruy; Buccheri, Maria A; Simone, Francesca; Nicotra, Giuseppe; Svensson, Bengt G; Grimaldi, Maria G; Privitera, Vittorio

2014-10-07

We propose a ground-breaking approach by an upside-down vision of the Au/TiO2 nano-system in order to obtain an enhanced photocatalytic response. The system was synthesized by wrapping Au nanoparticles (∼8 nm mean diameter) with a thin layer of TiO2 (∼4 nm thick). The novel idea of embedding Au nanoparticles with titanium dioxide takes advantage of the presence of metal nanoparticles, in terms of electron trapping, without losing any of the TiO2 exposed surface, so as to favor the photocatalytic performance of titanium dioxide. A complete structural characterization was made by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The remarkable photocatalytic performance together with the stability of the nano-system was demonstrated by degradation of the methylene blue dye in water. The non-toxicity of the nano-system was established by testing the effect of the material on the reproductive cycle of Mytilus galloprovincialis in an aquatic environment. The originally synthesized material was also compared to conventional TiO2 with Au nanoparticles on top. The latter system showed a dispersion of Au nanoparticles in the liquid environment, due to their instability in the aqueous solution that clearly represents an environmental contamination issue. Thus, the results show that nanometric TiO2 wrapping of Au nanoparticles has great potential in eco-friendly water/wastewater purification.

Fluorine- and iron-modified hierarchical anatase microsphere photocatalyst for water cleaning: facile wet chemical synthesis and wavelength-sensitive photocatalytic reactivity.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Shaohong; Sun, Xudong; Li, Ji-Guang; Li, Xiaodong; Xiu, Zhimeng; Yang, He; Xue, Xiangxin

2010-03-16

High photocatalytic efficiency, easy recovery, and no biological toxicity are three key properties related to the practical application of anatase photocatalyst in water cleaning, but seem to be incompatible. Nanoparticles-constructed hierarchical anatase microspheres with high crystallinity and good dispersion prepared in this study via one-step solution processing at 90 degrees C under atmospheric pressure by using ammonium fluotitanate as the titanium source and urea as the precipitant can reconcile these three requirements. The hierarchical microspheres were found to grow via an aggregative mechanism, and contact recrystallization occurred at high additions of the FeCl(3) electrolyte into the reaction system. Simultaneous incorporation of fluorine and iron into the TiO(2) matrix was confirmed by combined analysis of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Surface structure and morphology changes of the microspheres induced by high-temperature annealing were clearly observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, especially for the phase-transformed particles. The original nanoparticles-constructed rough surfaces partially became smooth, resulting in a sharp drop in photocatalytic efficiency. Interestingly, iron loading has detrimental effects on the visible-light photocatalytic activity of both the as-prepared and the postannealed anatase microspheres but greatly enhances the photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared anatase microspheres under UV irradiation. No matter under UV or visible-light irradiation, the fluorine-loaded anatase microspheres and especially the postannealed ones show excellent photocatalytic performance. The underlying mechanism of fluorine and iron loading on the photocatalytic efficacy of the anatase microspheres was discussed in detail. Beyond photocatalytic applications, this kind of material is of great importance to the assembling of

Effects of donor doping and acceptor doping on rutile TiO2 particles for photocatalytic O2 evolution by water oxidation

Science.gov (United States)

Amano, Fumiaki; Tosaki, Ryosuke; Sato, Kyosuke; Higuchi, Yamato

2018-02-01

Crystalline defects of photocatalyst particles may be considered to be the recombination center of photoexcited electrons and holes. In this study, we investigated the photocatalytic activity of cation-doped rutile TiO2 photocatalysts for O2 evolution from an aqueous silver nitrate solution under ultraviolet light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of rutile TiO2 was enhanced by donor doping of Ta5+ and Nb5+ with a valence higher than that of Ti4+, regardless of increased density of electrons and Ti3+ species (an electron trapped in Ti4+ sites). Conversely, acceptor doping of lower valence cations such as In3+ and Ga3+ decreased photocatalytic activity for O2 evolution by water oxidation. The doping of equal valence cations such as Sn4+ and Ge4+ hardly changed the activity of non-doped TiO2. This study demonstrates that Ti3+ species, which is a crystalline defect, enhanced the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor oxides, for example rutile TiO2 with large crystalline size.

Heterogeneous Photocatalysis: Fundamentals and Application for Treatment of Polluted Air

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Tomašić, V.

2011-07-01

the photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds is generally more efficient in the gas phase than in the liquid phase, and the fact that the treatment cost may be significantly lower than that of the water phase photocatalytic treatment, the scientific interest has shifted towards the application of photocatalysis for air treatment. This paper describes the basics of heterogeneous photocatalysis, mainly on TiO2 and the application of photocatalytic processes for air treatment purposes. Review of more interesting practical application of heterogeneous photocatalysis for the treatment of polluted air is presented. Special efforts are made to describe the technical aspects of the photocatalytic processes and to characterize different photocatalytic reactors in use for air treatment.

Non-thermal plasma-induced photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol in water

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hao Xiaolong [Institute of Environmental Pollution Control Technologies, Xixi Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, Zhejiang (China); Zhou Ming Hua [Institute of Environmental Pollution Control Technologies, Xixi Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, Zhejiang (China); Lei Lecheng [Institute of Environmental Pollution Control Technologies, Xixi Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, Zhejiang (China)]. E-mail: lclei@zju.edu.cn

2007-03-22

TiO{sub 2} photocatalyst (P-25) (50 mg L{sup -1}) was tentatively introduced into pulsed high-voltage discharge process for non-thermal plasma-induced photocatalytic degradation of the representative mode organic pollutant parachlorophenol (4-CP), including other compounds phenol and methyl red in water. The experimental results showed that rate constant of 4-CP degradation, energy efficiency for 4-CP removal and TOC removal with TiO{sub 2} were obviously increased. Pulsed high-voltage discharge process with TiO{sub 2} had a promoted effect for the degradation of these pollutants under a broad range of liquid conductivity. Furthermore, the apparent formation rates of chemically active species (e.g., ozone and hydrogen peroxide) were increased, the hydrogen peroxide formation rate from 1.10 x 10{sup -6} to 1.50 x 10{sup -6} M s{sup -1}, the ozone formation rate from 1.99 x 10{sup -8} to 2.35 x 10{sup -8} M s{sup -1}, respectively. In addition, this process had no influence on the photocatalytic properties of TiO{sub 2}. The introduction of TiO{sub 2} photocatalyst into pulsed discharge plasma process in the utilizing of ultraviolet radiation and electric field in pulsed discharge plasma process enhanced the yields of chemically active species, which were available for highly efficient removal and mineralization of organic pollutants.

Photocatalytic oxide films in the built environment

Science.gov (United States)

Österlund, Lars; Topalian, Zareh

2014-11-01

The possibility to increase human comfort in buildings is a powerful driving force for the introduction of new technology. Among other things our sense of comfort depends on air quality, temperature, lighting level, and the possibility of having visual contact between indoors and outdoors. Indeed there is an intimate connection between energy, comfort, and health issues in the built environment, leading to a need for intelligent building materials and green architecture. Photocatalytic materials can be applied as coatings, filters, and be embedded in building materials to provide self-cleaning, antibacterial, air cleaning, deodorizing, and water cleaning functions utilizing either solar light or artificial illumination sources - either already present in buildings, or by purposefully designed luminaries. Huge improvements in indoor comfort can thus be made, and also alleviate negative health effects associated with buildings, such as the sick-house syndrome. At the same time huge cost savings can be made by reducing maintenance costs. Photocatalytic oxides can be chemically modified by changing their acid-base surface properties, which can be used to overcome deactivation problems commonly encountered for TiO2 in air cleaning applications. In addition, the wetting properties of oxides can be tailored by surface chemical modifications and thus be made e.g. oleophobic and water repellent. Here we show results of surface acid modified TiO2 coatings on various substrates by means of photo-fixation of surface sulfate species by a method invented in our group. In particular, we show that such surface treatments of photocatalytic concrete made by mixing TiO2 nanoparticles in reactive concrete powders result in concrete surfaces with beneficial self-cleaning properties. We propose that such approaches are feasible for a number of applications in the built environment, including glass, tiles, sheet metals, plastics, etc.

Photocatalytic oxide films in the built environment

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Österlund, Lars; Topalian, Zareh

2014-01-01

The possibility to increase human comfort in buildings is a powerful driving force for the introduction of new technology. Among other things our sense of comfort depends on air quality, temperature, lighting level, and the possibility of having visual contact between indoors and outdoors. Indeed there is an intimate connection between energy, comfort, and health issues in the built environment, leading to a need for intelligent building materials and green architecture. Photocatalytic materials can be applied as coatings, filters, and be embedded in building materials to provide self-cleaning, antibacterial, air cleaning, deodorizing, and water cleaning functions utilizing either solar light or artificial illumination sources – either already present in buildings, or by purposefully designed luminaries. Huge improvements in indoor comfort can thus be made, and also alleviate negative health effects associated with buildings, such as the sick-house syndrome. At the same time huge cost savings can be made by reducing maintenance costs. Photocatalytic oxides can be chemically modified by changing their acid-base surface properties, which can be used to overcome deactivation problems commonly encountered for TiO 2 in air cleaning applications. In addition, the wetting properties of oxides can be tailored by surface chemical modifications and thus be made e.g. oleophobic and water repellent. Here we show results of surface acid modified TiO 2 coatings on various substrates by means of photo-fixation of surface sulfate species by a method invented in our group. In particular, we show that such surface treatments of photocatalytic concrete made by mixing TiO 2 nanoparticles in reactive concrete powders result in concrete surfaces with beneficial self-cleaning properties. We propose that such approaches are feasible for a number of applications in the built environment, including glass, tiles, sheet metals, plastics, etc

Preparation of visible-light-responsive TiO{sub 2} coatings using molten KNO{sub 3} treatment and their photocatalytic activity

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hao, Liang [Tianjin Key Lab of Integrated Design and On-line Monitoring for Light Industry & Food Machinery and Equipment, Tianjin (China); College of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, No. 1038 Dagu Nanlu, Hexi District, Tianjin 300222 (China); College of Mechanical Engineering & Graduate School, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522 (Japan); Guan, Sujun; Takaya, Shunsuke [College of Mechanical Engineering & Graduate School, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522 (Japan); Yoshida, Hiroyuki [Chiba Industrial Technology Research Institute, 6-13-1, Tendai, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-0016 (Japan); Tochihara, Misako [JFE Techno-Research Corporation, No. 1 Kawasaki-cho, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0835 (Japan); Lu, Yun, E-mail: luyun@faculty.chiba-u.jp [College of Mechanical Engineering & Graduate School, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522 (Japan)

2017-06-15

Highlights: • Molten KNO{sub 3} treatment are used to prepare K-doped TiO{sub 2} photocatalyst coatings. • The coatings show good antibacterial activity even in absence of light. • The photocatalytic activity is increased with the amount increase of K-doping. • The good antibacterial activity should come from the doping and release of K ions. - Abstract: In this work, the process of mechanical coating followed by molten KNO{sub 3} treatment is given to prepare visible-light-responsive K{sup +}-doped TiO{sub 2}. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were conducted to characterize these TiO{sub 2} coatings. The results showed that K{sup +}-doped anatase TiO{sub 2}/Ti composite coatings formed after molten KNO{sub 3} treatment at elevated temperatures. Meanwhile, their photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) was also studied. The visible-light-responsive photocatalytic activity of the coatings in MB degradation increased with increase of K{sup +} ions when holding temperature was raised from 673 to 773 K. An excellent antibacterial activity of the K{sup +}-doped TiO{sub 2}/Ti coatings against E. coli was also obtained even in absence of light. The antibacterial activity in dark should attribute to the release of K{sup +} ions from the coatings. The photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation should result from the absorption spectrum extension due to the doping of K{sup +} ions into the lattice of TiO{sub 2}.

Factorial design of a solar photocatalytic process to treatment of wastewater effluent

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Francisco, Adriana Ribeiro; Paterniani, Jose Euclides Stipp [Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FEAGRI/UNICAMP), SP (Brazil). Fac. de Engenharia Agricola], E-mail: adriana.francisco@agr.unicamp.br; Kuwakino, Adriana Yuri [Universidade Estadual de Campinas (CESET/UNICAMP), Limeira, SP (Brazil). Centro Superior de Educacao Tecnologica

2008-07-01

Advanced treatments are attributed to improving the quality of various types of waste such as the sanitary wastewater. The heterogeneous photocatalysis is an alternative that allows to improve the effluents conditions. This is possible because many chemical compounds of environmental concern can be degraded using UV radiation on a semiconductor. However, to enable the efficiency of the process photocatalytic is necessary to conduct a study of optimization to establish favorable conditions between selected variables. The aim of this work was a reactor solar photocatalytic optimization using factorial design 2{sup k}, depending on variables: mass (TiO{sub 2}), time (min) and flow of air (L min{sup -1}), using as analytical response the removal of color. The experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering (FEAGRI) and it was used the sanitary wastewater of there. The results indicated that there were significant efficiency using combinations mass = 1000 mg L{sup -1}, time = 360 min and flow of air = 5 L min{sup -1}. In the calculations of factorial design, the time showed a marked positive effect of 7.76, while the flow of air, when in excess, had an inhibitor behavior, even getting positive effect. (author)

Advanced oxidation-based treatment of furniture industry wastewater.

Science.gov (United States)

Tichonovas, Martynas; Krugly, Edvinas; Grybauskas, Arturas; Jankūnaitė, Dalia; Račys, Viktoras; Martuzevičius, Dainius

2017-07-16

The paper presents a study on the treatment of the furniture industry wastewater in a bench scale advanced oxidation reactor. The researched technology utilized a simultaneous application of ozone, ultraviolet radiation and surface-immobilized TiO 2 nanoparticle catalyst. Various combinations of processes were tested, including photolysis, photocatalysis, ozonation, catalytic ozonation, photolytic ozonation and photocatalytic ozonation were tested against the efficiency of degradation. The efficiency of the processes was primarily characterized by the total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, indicating the remaining organic material in the wastewater after the treatment, while the toxicity changes in wastewater were researched by Daphnia magna toxicity tests. Photocatalytic ozonation was confirmed as the most effective combination of processes (99.3% of TOC reduction during 180 min of treatment), also being the most energy efficient (4.49-7.83 MJ/g). Photocatalytic ozonation and photolytic ozonation remained efficient across a wide range of pH (3-9), but the pH was an important factor in photocatalysis. The toxicity of wastewater depended on the duration of the treatment: half treated water was highly toxic, while fully treated water did not possess any toxicity. Our results indicate that photocatalytic ozonation has a high potential for the upscaling and application in industrial settings.

A Novel TiQ2-Assisted Solar Photocatalytic Batch-Process Disinfection Reactor for the Treatment of Biological and Chemical Contaminants in Domestic Drinking Water in Developing Countries

OpenAIRE

Duffy, E. F.; Al Touati, F.; Kehoe, S. C.; McLoughlin, O. A.; Gill, L. W.; Gernjak, W.; Oller, I.; Maldonado, M. I.; Malato, S.; Cassidy, John; Reed, R. H.; McGuigan, K. G.

2004-01-01

he technical feasibility and performance of photocatalytic Ti02 coatings in batch-process solar disinfection (SODIS) reactors to improve potability of drinking water in developing countries have been studied. Borosilicate glass and PET plastic SODIS reactors fitted with flexible plastic inserts coated with Ti02 powder were shown to be 2(Jt1o and 25% more effective, respectively, than standard SODIS reactors for the inactivation of E. coli K12. Isopropanol at 100 ppm concentration levels was o...

Photocatalytic Degradation of Aniline Using TiO2 Nanoparticles in a Vertical Circulating Photocatalytic Reactor

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

F. Shahrezaei

2012-01-01

Full Text Available Photocatalytic degradation of aniline in the presence of titanium dioxide (TiO2 and ultraviolet (UV illumination was performed in a vertical circulating photocatalytic reactor. The effects of catalyst concentration (0–80 mg/L, initial pH (2–12, temperature (293–323 K, and irradiation time (0–120 min on aniline photodegradation were investigated in order to obtain the optimum operational conditions. The results reveal that the aniline degradation efficiency can be effectively improved by increasing pH from 2 to 12 and temperature from 313 to 323 K. Besides, the effect of temperature on aniline photo degradation was found to be unremarkable in the range of 293–313 K. The optimum catalyst concentration was about 60 mg/L. The Langmuir Hinshelwood kinetic model could successfully elucidate the effects of the catalyst concentration, pH, and temperature on the rate of heterogeneous photooxidation of aniline. The data obtained by applying the Langmuir Hinshelwood treatment are consistent with the available kinetic parameters. The activated energy for the photocatalytic degradation of aniline is 20.337 kj/mol. The possibility of the reactor use in the treatment of a real petroleum refinery wastewater was also investigated. The results of the experiments indicated that it can therefore be potentially applied for the treatment of wastewater contaminated by different organic pollutants.

Engineering Interfacial Energetics: A Novel Hybrid System of Metal Oxide Quantum Dots and Cobalt Complex for Photocatalytic Water Oxidation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Niu, Fujun; Shen, Shaohua; Wang, Jian; Guo, Liejin

2016-01-01

Graphical abstract: A cobalt complex engineers the interfacial energetics of metal oxide quantum dots (n- or p-type) and electrolytes for highly efficient O_2 generation under visible light irradiation. - Highlights: • A noble-metal-free hybrid photocatalytic system using a single-site cobalt catalyst was developed for O_2 generation. • Considerable activity and excellent stability for O_2 production were achieved by this novel system. • CoSlp engineered the QDs/electrolyte interfacical energetics for efficient hole transfer. - Abstract: Here we reported a novel hybrid photocatalytic water oxidation system, containing metal oxide (n-Fe_2O_3 or p-Co_3O_4) quantum dots (QDs) as light harvester, a salophen cobalt(II) complex (CoSlp) as redox catalyst and persulfate (S_2O_8"2"−) as sacrificial electron acceptor, for oxygen generation from fully aqueous solution. The n-Fe_2O_3 QDs/CoSlp and p-Co_3O_4 QDs/CoSlp systems exhibited good O_2 evolution performances, giving turnover numbers (TONs) of ca. 33 and ca. 35 over CoSlp after visible light irradiation for 72 h, respectively. The excellent photocatalytic performance could be ascribed to the efficient hole transfer from QDs to CoSlp catalyst, leading to reduced photogenerated charge recombination, as well as the CoSlp engineered interfacial band bending of QDs, increasing the driving force or decreasing the energy barrier for hole transfer and then benefiting the following O_2 generation at the QDs/electrolyte interface. The present work successfully demonstrated a novel hybrid system for photocatalytic O_2 evolution from fully aqueous solution; and the essential role of cobalt complexes in engineering the interfacial energetics of semiconductors (n- or p-type) and electrolytes could be informative for designing efficient systems for solar water splitting.

Photocatalytic activity of sonochemically prepared TiO_2 decorated with silver nanoparticles

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Michal, R.

2017-01-01

A novel way of titanium dioxide synthesis using non-water environment was investigated. In synthesis, water causes aggregation of particles of titania thus reducing active surface significantly. To avoid this, a non- water environment such as toluene was employed. Reaction between solid precursor and gaseous ammonia was conducted in this environment using dried reactants in tempered glass reactor and irradiated by ultrasonic horn. As prepared powders were then calcinated and decorated with Ag nanoparticles. Photocatalytic activity was determined by TOC method and compared to P25 standard TiO_2. Samples were analysed by XRD and Raman spectroscopy and surface morphology was investigated by SEM. Powders prepared by this method had comparable or higher photocatalytic activity than P25. Ag nanoparticles seem to have no significant impact on photocatalytic activity whatsoever. (authors)

Coaxial nanofibers containing TiO2 in the shell for water treatment applications

Science.gov (United States)

Kizildag, N.; Geltmeyer, J.; Ucar, N.; De Buysser, K.; De Clerck, K.

2017-10-01

In recent years, the basic electrospinning setup has undergone many modifications carried out to enhance the quality and improve the functionality of the resulting nanofibers. Being one of these modifications, coaxial electrospinning has attracted great attention. It enables to use different materials in nanofiber production and produce multi-layered and functional nanofibers in one step. In this study, TiO2 has been added to the shell layer of coaxial nanofibers to develop functional nanofibers which may be used in water treatment applications. The coaxial nanofibers containing TiO2 in the shell layer are compared to uniaxial nanofibers containing TiO2 in bulk fiber structure, regarding their morphology and photocatalytic activity. Uniform uniaxial and coaxial nanofibers with TiO2 were obtained. The average nanofiber diameter of coaxial nanofibers were higher. Coaxial nanofibers, which contained lower amount of TiO2, displayed similar performance to uniaxial nanofibers with TiO2 in terms of photocatalytic degradation ability against isoproturon.

Direct Z-scheme TiO2/CdS hierarchical photocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic H2-production activity

Science.gov (United States)

Meng, Aiyun; Zhu, Bicheng; Zhong, Bo; Zhang, Liuyang; Cheng, Bei

2017-11-01

Photocatalytic H2 evolution, which utilizes solar energy via water splitting, is a promising route to deal with concerns about energy and environment. Herein, a direct Z-scheme TiO2/CdS binary hierarchical photocatalyst was fabricated via a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique, and photocatalytic H2 production was measured afterwards. The as-prepared TiO2/CdS hybrid photocatalyst exhibited noticeably promoted photocatalytic H2-production activity of 51.4 μmol h-1. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the hierarchical structure, as well as the efficient charge separation and migration from TiO2 nanosheets to CdS nanoparticles (NPs) at their tight contact interfaces. Moreover, the direct Z-scheme photocatalytic reaction mechanism was demonstrated to elucidate the improved photocatalytic performance of TiO2/CdS composite photocatalyst. The photoluminescence (PL) analysis of hydroxyl radicals were conducted to provide clues for the direct Z-scheme mechanism. This work provides a facile route for the construction of redox mediator-free Z-scheme photocatalytic system for photocatalytic water splitting.

Solar CPC pilot plant photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A in waters and wastewaters using suspended and supported-TiO2. Influence of photogenerated species.

Science.gov (United States)

Saggioro, Enrico Mendes; Oliveira, Anabela Sousa; Pavesi, Thelma; Tototzintle, Margarita Jiménez; Maldonado, Manuel Ignacio; Correia, Fábio Verissimo; Moreira, Josino Costa

2014-11-01

Photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in waters and wastewaters in the presence of titanium dioxide (TiO2) was performed under different conditions. Suspensions of the TiO2 were used to compare the degradation efficiency of BPA (20 mg L(-1)) in batch and compound parabolic collector (CPC) reactors. A TiO2 catalyst supported on glass spheres was prepared (sol-gel method) and used in a CPC solar pilot plant for the photodegradation of BPA (100 μg L(-1)). The influence of OH·, O2 (·-), and h (+) on the BPA degradation were evaluated. The radicals OH· and O2 (·-) were proved to be the main species involved on BPA photodegradation. Total organic carbon (TOC) and carboxylic acids were determined to evaluate the BPA mineralization during the photodegradation process. Some toxicological effects of BPA and its photoproducts on Eisenia andrei earthworms were evaluated. The results show that the optimal concentration of suspended TiO2 to degrade BPA in batch or CPC reactors was 0.1 g L(-1). According to biological tests, the BPA LC50 in 24 h for E. andrei was of 1.7 × 10(-2) mg cm(-2). The photocatalytic degradation of BPA mediated by TiO2 supported on glass spheres suffered strong influence of the water matrix. On real municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWWTP) secondary effluent, 30 % of BPA remains in solution; nevertheless, the method has the enormous advantage since it eliminates the need of catalyst removal step, reducing the cost of treatment.

TiO2 Solar Photocatalytic Reactor Systems: Selection of Reactor Design for Scale-up and Commercialization—Analytical Review

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Yasmine Abdel-Maksoud

2016-09-01

Full Text Available For the last four decades, viability of photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds in water streams has been demonstrated. Different configurations for solar TiO2 photocatalytic reactors have been used, however pilot and demonstration plants are still countable. Degradation efficiency reported as a function of treatment time does not answer the question: which of these reactor configurations is the most suitable for photocatalytic process and optimum for scale-up and commercialization? Degradation efficiency expressed as a function of the reactor throughput and ease of catalyst removal from treated effluent are used for comparing performance of different reactor configurations to select the optimum for scale-up. Comparison included parabolic trough, flat plate, double skin sheet, shallow ponds, shallow tanks, thin-film fixed-bed, thin film cascade, step, compound parabolic concentrators, fountain, slurry bubble column, pebble bed and packed bed reactors. Degradation efficiency as a function of system throughput is a powerful indicator for comparing the performance of photocatalytic reactors of different types and geometries, at different development scales. Shallow ponds, shallow tanks and fountain reactors have the potential of meeting all the process requirements and a relatively high throughput are suitable for developing into continuous industrial-scale treatment units given that an efficient immobilized or supported photocatalyst is used.

Enhanced photocatalytic efficiency in zirconia buffered n-NiO/p-NiO single crystalline heterostructures by nanosecond laser treatment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Molaei, R.; Bayati, M. R.; Alipour, H. M.; Nori, S.; Narayan, J. [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NC State University, EB-1, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7907 (United States)

2013-06-21

We report the formation of NiO based single crystalline p-n junctions with enhanced photocatalytic activity induced by pulsed laser irradiation. The NiO epilayers were grown on Si(001) substrates buffered with cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia (c-YSZ) by using pulsed laser deposition. The NiO/c-YSZ/Si heterostructures were subsequently laser treated by 5 pulses of KrF excimer laser (pulse duration = 25 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -9} s) at lower energies. Microstructural studies, conducted by X-ray diffraction ({theta}-2{theta} and {phi} techniques) and high resolution transmission electron microscope, showed a cube-on-cube epitaxial relationship at the c-YSZ/Si interface; the epitaxial relationship across the NiO/c-YSZ interface was established as NiO<111 > Double-Vertical-Line Double-Vertical-Line c-YSZ<001> and in-plane NiO<110> Double-Vertical-Line Double-Vertical-Line c-YSZ<100>. Electron microscopy studies showed that the interface between the laser annealed and the pristine region as well as the NiO/c-YSZ interface was atomically sharp and crystallographically continuous. The formation of point defects, namely oxygen vacancies and NiO, due to the coupling of the laser photons with the NiO epilayers was confirmed by XPS. The p-type electrical characteristics of the pristine NiO epilayers turned to an n-type behavior and the electrical conductivity was increased by one order of magnitude after laser treatment. Photocatalytic activity of the pristine (p-NiO/c-YSZ/Si) and the laser-annealed (n-NiO/p-NiO/c-YSZ/Si) heterostructures were assessed by measuring the decomposition rate of 4-chlorophenol under UV light. The photocatalytic reaction rate constants were determined to be 0.0059 and 0.0092 min{sup -1} for the as-deposited and the laser-treated samples, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiency was attributed to the suppressed charge carrier recombination in the NiO based p-n junctions and higher electrical conductivity. Besides, the oxygen vacancies

New large solar photocatalytic plant: set-up and preliminary results.

Science.gov (United States)

Malato, S; Blanco, J; Vidal, A; Fernández, P; Cáceres, J; Trincado, P; Oliveira, J C; Vincent, M

2002-04-01

A European industrial consortium called SOLARDETOX has been created as the result of an EC-DGXII BRITE-EURAM-III-financed project on solar photocatalytic detoxification of water. The project objective was to develop a simple, efficient and commercially competitive water-treatment technology, based on compound parabolic collectors (CPCs) solar collectors and TiO2 photocatalysis, to make possible easy design and installation. The design, set-up and preliminary results of the main project deliverable, the first European industrial solar detoxification treatment plant, is presented. This plant has been designed for the batch treatment of 2 m3 of water with a 100 m2 collector-aperture area and aqueous aerated suspensions of polycrystalline TiO2 irradiated by sunlight. Fully automatic control reduces operation and maintenance manpower. Plant behaviour has been compared (using dichloroacetic acid and cyanide at 50 mg l(-1) initial concentration as model compounds) with the small CPC pilot plants installed at the Plataforma Solar de Almería several years ago. The first results with high-content cyanide (1 g l(-1)) waste water are presented and plant treatment capacity is calculated.

Photocatalytic and antimicrobial Ag/ZnO nanocomposites for functionalization of textile fabrics

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ibănescu, Mariana [Centre of Nanostructures and Functional Materials-CNMF, Faculty of Materials and Environment Engineering, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galaţi, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galaţi (Romania); Muşat, Viorica, E-mail: viorica.musat@ugal.ro [Centre of Nanostructures and Functional Materials-CNMF, Faculty of Materials and Environment Engineering, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galaţi, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galaţi (Romania); Textor, Torsten [Deutsches Textilforschungszentrum Nord-West gGmbH, DTNW, Adlerstr. 1, 47798 Krefeld (Germany); CENIDE, Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (Germany); Badilita, Viorel [National R and D Institute for Non-ferrous and Rare Metals Nanostructured Materials Laboratory, Ilfov (Romania); Mahltig, Boris [Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology, Webschulstr. 31, 41065 Mönchengladbach (Germany)

2014-10-15

Highlights: • Higher silver doping smaller nanoparticles size and weaker agglomeration. • Higher silver concentration higher optical absorbance and band gap energy. • Small amouts of silver have considerably increased the antimicobial activity. • The photocatalytic activity is consistent with the increase of antimicrobial activity. - Abstract: The utilization of ZnO nanoparticles with photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity for textile treatment has received much attention in recent years. Since silver is a well-known but more expensive antibacterial material, it is of interest to study the extent to which a small amount of silver increases the photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity of the less expensive zinc oxide nanoparticles. This paper reports on the preparation of Ag/ZnO composite nanoparticles by reducing silver on the surface of commercial ZnO nanoparticles dispersed in isopropanol. Crystalline structure, particle size and band gap energy of as-prepared composite nanoparticles were investigated by X-ray diffraction and UV–Vis absorption measurements. Long term stable sols of ZnO and Ag/ZnO nanoparticles were prepared and applied as liquid coating agent for textile treatment, in combination with inorganic–organic hybrid polymer binder sols prepared from the precursors 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The coating process was carried out on cotton fabrics and cotton/polyester blended fabrics using the pad–dry–cure method. The photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles, as prepared or applied on textile fabrics, was studied through the degradation of the dye methylene blue (MB) in water under the UV irradiation. The antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles applied on textile fabrics, was tested against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Micrococcus luteus.

Photocatalytic and antimicrobial Ag/ZnO nanocomposites for functionalization of textile fabrics

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ibănescu, Mariana; Muşat, Viorica; Textor, Torsten; Badilita, Viorel; Mahltig, Boris

2014-01-01

Highlights: • Higher silver doping smaller nanoparticles size and weaker agglomeration. • Higher silver concentration higher optical absorbance and band gap energy. • Small amouts of silver have considerably increased the antimicobial activity. • The photocatalytic activity is consistent with the increase of antimicrobial activity. - Abstract: The utilization of ZnO nanoparticles with photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity for textile treatment has received much attention in recent years. Since silver is a well-known but more expensive antibacterial material, it is of interest to study the extent to which a small amount of silver increases the photocatalytic and antimicrobial activity of the less expensive zinc oxide nanoparticles. This paper reports on the preparation of Ag/ZnO composite nanoparticles by reducing silver on the surface of commercial ZnO nanoparticles dispersed in isopropanol. Crystalline structure, particle size and band gap energy of as-prepared composite nanoparticles were investigated by X-ray diffraction and UV–Vis absorption measurements. Long term stable sols of ZnO and Ag/ZnO nanoparticles were prepared and applied as liquid coating agent for textile treatment, in combination with inorganic–organic hybrid polymer binder sols prepared from the precursors 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The coating process was carried out on cotton fabrics and cotton/polyester blended fabrics using the pad–dry–cure method. The photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles, as prepared or applied on textile fabrics, was studied through the degradation of the dye methylene blue (MB) in water under the UV irradiation. The antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles applied on textile fabrics, was tested against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Micrococcus luteus

Facile fabrication of porous ZnO by thermal treatment of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 and its photocatalytic activity

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Du, Y. [College of Environment, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Industrial Water-Conservation and Emission Reduction, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009 (China); Chen, R.Z., E-mail: rizhichen@163.com [State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Industrial Water-Conservation and Emission Reduction, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009 (China); Yao, J.F. [Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800 (Australia); Wang, H.T., E-mail: huanting.wang@monash.edu [Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800 (Australia)

2013-02-25

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Porous ZnO powders can be obtained by thermal decomposition of ZIF-8. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The morphology, structure and performance of porous ZnO can be controlled. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer ZnO-500-5 exhibits efficient photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB. - Abstract: In this work, porous ZnO photocatalysts were attempted to be prepared by a facile method, i.e. the thermal treatment of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8, and then characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. It was found that the calcination temperature and time significantly influenced the morphology, composition and pore structure of ZnO. The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared ZnO powders were evaluated in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV light in comparison with commercial anatase TiO{sub 2} and Degussa P25 TiO{sub 2}. The surface area and crystallinity of porous ZnO obviously affected the photocatalytic activity of ZnO. The ZnO prepared at 500 Degree-Sign C for 5 h (ZnO-500-5) showed the highest photocatalytic activity, which was higher than that of the commercial anatase TiO{sub 2} and lower than that of Degussa P25 TiO{sub 2}.

Hierarchical Fe_3O_4@MoS_2/Ag_3PO_4 magnetic nanocomposites: Enhanced and stable photocatalytic performance for water purification under visible light irradiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Guo, Na; Li, Haiyan; Xu, Xingjian; Yu, Hongwen

2016-01-01

Highlights: • The FM/A-6% possesses a large specific surface area: 76.56 m"2/g. • The FM/A-6% displays high photocatalytic stability. • The FM/A-6% can be collected easily from the water by magnetic field. - Abstract: Novel hierarchical Fe_3O_4@MoS_2/Ag_3PO_4 magnetic nanophotocatalyst with remarkable photocatalytic capability were prepared by simply depositing the Ag_3PO_4 onto the surface of crumpled Fe_3O_4@MoS_2 nanosphere. The nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, BET, and UV–vis DRS. The outcome of the photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that Fe_3O_4@MoS_2/Ag_3PO_4 with 6 wt% content of Ag_3PO_4 (FM/A-6%) showed the highest photocatalytic activity upon the degradation Congo red (CR) and Rhodamine B (RhB) under both visible light and simulated sunlight irradiation. In addition, FM/A-6% possessed larger specific surface area (76.56 m"2/g) and excellent optical property. The possible Z-scheme charge carriers transfer mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic properties of the FM/A-6% was also discussed. The Z-scheme charge carriers transfer mechanism established between MoS_2 and Ag_3PO_4 facilitate the charge separation efficiency. Moreover, FM/A-6% can be separated and collected easily by external magnetic field and maintain high activity after five times photoreaction cycles. Given the remarkable photocatalytic performance and high stability of FM/A-6% nanocomposite, it is looking forward to exhibit great potential for applications in water purification.

Novel-structured electrospun TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers for high efficient photocatalytic cogeneration of clean water and energy from dye wastewater.

Science.gov (United States)

Lee, Siew Siang; Bai, Hongwei; Liu, Zhaoyang; Sun, Darren Delai

2013-08-01

It is still a challenge to photocatalytically cogenerate clean water and energy from dye wastewater owing to the relatively low photocatalytic efficiency of photocatalysts. In this study, novel-structured TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers were successfully fabricated via facile electrospinning. For the first time, the TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers demonstrated multifunctional ability for concurrent photocatalytic organic degradation and H2 generation from dye wastewater. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers was ascribed to its excellent synergy of physicochemical properties: 1) mesoporosity and large specific surface area for efficient substrate adsorption, mass transfer and light harvesting; 2) red-shift of the absorbance spectra for enhanced light utilization; 3) long nanofibrous structure for efficient charge transfer and ease of recovery, 4) TiO2/CuO heterojunctions which enhance the separation of electrons and holes and 5) presence of CuO which serve as co-catalyst for the H2 production. The TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers also exhibited rapid settleability by gravity and uncompromised reusability. Thus, the as-synthesized TiO2/CuO composite nanofibers represent a promising candidate for highly efficient concurrent photocatalytic organic degradation and clean energy production from dye wastewater. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Rare Earth Metal (Nd and Gd doped ZnO Nanostructures

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

P. Logamani

2017-06-01

Full Text Available Presence of harmful organic pollutants in wastewater effluents causes serious environmental problems and therefore purification of this contaminated water by a cost effective treatment method is one of the most important issue which is in urgent need of scientific research. One such promising treatment technique uses semiconductor photocatalyst for the reduction of recalcitrant pollutants in water. In the present work, rare earth metals (Nd and Gd doped ZnO nanostructured photocatalyst have been synthesized by wet chemical method. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS. The XRD results showed that the prepared samples were well crystalline with hexagonal Wurtzite structure. The results of EDS revealed that rare earth elements were doped into ZnO structure. The effect of rare earth dopant on morphology and photocatalytic degradation properties of the prepared samples were studied and discussed. The results revealed that the rare earth metal doped ZnO samples showed enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue dye than pure nano ZnO photocatalyst.

The influence of photocatalytic interior paints on indoor air quality

Science.gov (United States)

Auvinen, Joonas; Wirtanen, Leif

2008-06-01

A clean indoor air is important for the well-being and health of people. Lately, new photocatalytic paints have been launched on the market, which are claimed to have air-purifying effects. Photocatalysis initiates radical reactions. Radicals are formed when a photocatalyst (e.g. TiO2) is subjected to radiation. Typical radicals are the hydroxyl radical (radOH) and the superoxide radical (radO2-). Radicals cause chain reactions, which degrade and decompose organic compounds. The end products of these chain reactions are water and carbon dioxide, if the reactions are fully completed (mineralization). If mineralization does not take place, then a great number of side products can be formed, whose properties are not well understood. The side products of photocatalytic reactions can be permanent and stabile. The decomposition of indoor air impurities on the surface of photocatalytic paints is not obvious. The ability of photocatalytic indoor paints to reduce chemical indoor air impurities is the key issue of this study. Six different paints with different binder systems, such as lime, polyorganic siloxane, silica sol-gel and organic binders, were examined. The experiments were divided into three topics: degradation of an organic binder, photocatalytic decomposition of formaldehyde, and a volatile organic compound (VOC) mixture consisting of five different indoor air VOCs. All tests were carried out in an environmental test chamber under dynamic conditions. The test results indicate that many indoor pollutants are generated under normal- and UVA-light. Typical compounds formed include formaldehyde, acetone, acetaldehyde, etc. A clear decrease of formaldehyde or the VOC mixture concentration was not observed. All possibly generated compounds could not be collected or analyzed in this research project, but the measurements show that photocatalytic reactions do not generate only carbon dioxide and water. Photocatalytic decomposition of indoor air impurities can, however

Revealing the relationship between the photocatalytic property and structure characteristic of reduced TiO2 by hydrogen and carbon monoxide treatment.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Yunpeng; Li, Yuhang; Yang, Siyuan; Lin, Yuan; Zuo, Jianliang; Liang, Hong; Peng, Feng

2018-06-04

The hydrogenation (reduction) has been considered as an effective method to improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO2, however, the underlying relationship between structure and photocatalytic performance has still not been adequately unveiled so far. Herein, to obtain insight into the effect of structure on photocatalytic activity, two types of reduced TiO2 were prepared by CO (CO-TiO2) and H2 (H-TiO2), respectively. For H-TiO2, Ti-H bonds and oxygen vacancies are formed on the surface of H-TiO2, resulting in a more disorder surface lattice. However, for CO-TiO2, the more Ti-OH bonds are formed on the surface and the more bulk oxygen vacancies are introduced, the disorder layer of CO-TiO2 is relatively thin owing to the most of surface vacancies repaired by Ti-OH bonds. Under the simulated solar irradiation, the photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of CO-TiO2 reaches 7.17 mmol g-1 h-1, which is 4.14 and 1.50 times those of TiO2 and H-TiO2, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation rate constant of methyl orange on CO-TiO2 is 2.45 and 6.39 times those on H-TiO2 and TiO2. The superior photocatalytic activity of CO-TiO2 is attributed to the effective separation and transfer of the photo-generated electron-hole pairs, due to the synergistic effects of oxygen vacancies and surface Ti-OH bonds. This study reveals the relation between the photocatalytic property and structure, and provides a new method to prepare highly active TiO2 for H2 production and environmental treatment. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Surface Modification Reaction of Photocatalytic Titanium Dioxide with Triethoxysilane for Improving Dispersibility

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lee, Myung Jin; Kim, Ji Ho; Park, Young Tae

2010-01-01

We have carried out the surface modification of photocatalytic TiO 2 with triethoxysilane through dehydrogenation reaction and characterized the modified photocatalyst by spectroscopic methods, such as FT-IR, solid-state 29 Si MAS NMR, XPS, and XRF, etc. We also examined photocatalytic activity of the immobilized photocatalytic titanium dioxide with triethoxysilane by decolorization reaction of dyes such as cong red and methylene blue under visible light. Dispersion test showed that the photocatalytic titanium dioxide immobilized with triethoxysilane group has kept higher dispersibility than titanium dioxide itself. No appreciable precipitation takes place even after standing for 24 h in the 4:6 mixture ratio of ethanol and water

Bibliography of work on the heterogeneous photocatalytic removal of hazardous compounds from water and air, Update Number 2 to October 1996

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Blake, D.M.

1997-01-01

The Solar Industrial Program has developed processes that destroy hazardous substances in or remove them from water and air. The processes of interest in this report are based on the application of heterogeneous photocatalysts, principally titanium dioxide or modifications thereof, but work on other heterogeneous catalysts is included in this compilation. This report continues bibliographies that were published in May, 1994, and October, 1995. The previous reports included 663 and 574 citations, respectively. This update contains an additional 518 references. These were published during the period from June 1995 to October 1996, or are references from prior years that were not included in the previous reports. The work generally focuses on removing hazardous contaminants from air or water to meet environmental or health regulations. This report also references work on properties of semiconductor photocatalysts and applications of photocatalytic chemistry in organic synthesis. This report follows the same organization as the previous publications. The first part provides citations for work done in a few broad categories that are generic to the process. Three tables provide references to work on specific substances. The first table lists organic compounds that are included in various lists of hazardous substances identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The second table lists compounds not included in those categories, but which have been treated in a photocatalytic process. The third table covers inorganic compounds that are on EPA lists of hazardous materials or that have been treated by a photocatalytic process. A short update on companies that are active in providing products or services based on photocatalytic processes is provided.

Photocatalytic Active Bismuth Fluoride/Oxyfluoride Surface Crystallized 2Bi2O3-B2O3 Glass-Ceramics

Science.gov (United States)

Sharma, Sumeet Kumar; Singh, V. P.; Chauhan, Vishal S.; Kushwaha, H. S.; Vaish, Rahul

2018-03-01

The present article deals with 2Bi2O3-B2O3 (BBO) glass whose photocatalytic activity has been enhanced by the method of wet etching using an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid (HF). X-ray diffraction of the samples reveals that etching with an aqueous solution of HF leads to the formation of BiF3 and BiO0.1F2.8 phases. Surface morphology obtained from scanning electron microscopy show granular and plate-like morphology on the etched glass samples. Rhodamine 6G (Rh 6G) has been used to investigate the photocatalytic activity of the as-quenched and etched glasses. Enhanced visible light-driven photocatalytic activity was observed in HF etched glass-ceramics compared to the as-quenched BBO glass. Contact angle of the as-quenched glass was 90.2°, which decreases up to 20.02° with an increase in concentration of HF in the etching solution. Enhanced photocatalytic activity and increase in the hydrophilic nature suggests the efficient treatment of water pollutants by using the prepared surface crystallized glass-ceramics.

Advances in Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction with Water: A Review

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Samsun Nahar

2017-06-01

Full Text Available In recent years, the increasing level of CO2 in the atmosphere has not only contributed to global warming but has also triggered considerable interest in photocatalytic reduction of CO2. The reduction of CO2 with H2O using sunlight is an innovative way to solve the current growing environmental challenges. This paper reviews the basic principles of photocatalysis and photocatalytic CO2 reduction, discusses the measures of the photocatalytic efficiency and summarizes current advances in the exploration of this technology using different types of semiconductor photocatalysts, such as TiO2 and modified TiO2, layered-perovskite Ag/ALa4Ti4O15 (A = Ca, Ba, Sr, ferroelectric LiNbO3, and plasmonic photocatalysts. Visible light harvesting, novel plasmonic photocatalysts offer potential solutions for some of the main drawbacks in this reduction process. Effective plasmonic photocatalysts that have shown reduction activities towards CO2 with H2O are highlighted here. Although this technology is still at an embryonic stage, further studies with standard theoretical and comprehensive format are suggested to develop photocatalysts with high production rates and selectivity. Based on the collected results, the immense prospects and opportunities that exist in this technique are also reviewed here.

Photocatalytic water splitting with acridine dyes: Guidelines from computational chemistry

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Liu, Xiaojun [Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, D-85747 Garching (Germany); Key Laboratory of Luminescence and Optical Information, Ministry of Education, Institute of Optoelectronic Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044 (China); Karsili, Tolga N.V. [Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, D-85747 Garching (Germany); Sobolewski, Andrzej L. [Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-02668 Warsaw (Poland); Domcke, Wolfgang, E-mail: domcke@ch.tum.de [Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, D-85747 Garching (Germany)

2016-01-13

Highlights: • Photoexcited acridine dyes are able to abstract a hydrogen atom from water. • Photodetachment of the hydrogen atom from the radicals regenerates the catalyzer. • The reaction mechanisms were characterized with ab initio electronic-structure calculations. • The chromophores and radicals absorb within the range of the solar spectrum. - Abstract: The photocatalytic splitting of water into H{sup ·} and OH{sup ·} radicals in hydrogen-bonded chromophore-water complexes has been explored with computational methods for the chromophores acridine orange (AO) and benzacridine (BA). These dyes are strong absorbers within the range of the solar spectrum. It is shown that low-lying charge-transfer excited states exist in the hydrogen-bonded AO−H{sub 2}O and BA−H{sub 2}O complexes which drive the transfer of a proton from water to the chromophore, which results in AOH{sup ·}−OH{sup ·} or BAH{sup ·}−OH{sup ·} biradicals. The AOH{sup ·} and BAH{sup ·} radicals possess bright ππ{sup ∗} excited states with vertical excitation energies near 3.0 eV which are predissociated by a low-lying repulsive πσ{sup ∗} state. The conical intersections of the πσ{sup ∗} state with the ππ{sup ∗} excited states and the ground state provide a mechanism for the photodetachment of the H-atom by a second photon. Our results indicate that AO and BA are promising chromophores for water splitting with visible light.

Evaluation of an alternative method for wastewater treatment containing pesticides using solar photocatalytic oxidation and constructed wetlands.

Science.gov (United States)

Berberidou, Chrysanthi; Kitsiou, Vasiliki; Lambropoulou, Dimitra A; Antoniadis, Αpostolos; Ntonou, Eleftheria; Zalidis, George C; Poulios, Ioannis

2017-06-15

The present study proposes an integrated system based on the synergetic action of solar photocatalytic oxidation with surface flow constructed wetlands for the purification of wastewater contaminated with pesticides. Experiments were conducted at pilot scale using simulated wastewater containing the herbicide clopyralid. Three photocatalytic methods under solar light were investigated: the photo-Fenton and the ferrioxalate reagent as well as the combination of photo-Fenton with TiO 2 P25, which all led to similar mineralization rates. The subsequent treatment in constructed wetlands resulted in further decrease of DOC and inorganic ions concentrations, especially of NO 3 - . Clopyralid was absent in the outlet of the wetlands, while the concentration of the detected intermediates was remarkably low. These findings are in good agreement with the results of phytotoxicity of the wastewater, after treatment with the ferrioxalate/wetlands process, which was significantly reduced. Thus, this integrated system based on solar photocatalysis and constructed wetlands has the potential to effectively detoxify wastewater containing pesticides, producing a purified effluent which could be exploited for reuse applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ionothermal synthesis of hierarchical BiOBr microspheres for water treatment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zhang, Dieqing [The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, Shanghai Normal University, 100 Guilin Road, Shanghai 200231 (China); Department of Chemistry and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong (China); Wen, Meicheng; Jiang, Bo; Li, Guisheng [The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, Shanghai Normal University, 100 Guilin Road, Shanghai 200231 (China); Yu, Jimmy C., E-mail: jimyu@cuhk.edu.hk [Department of Chemistry and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong (China)

2012-04-15

Graphical abstract: Hierarchical BiOBr microspheres were prepared from a bromine-containing ionic liquid. The material was found effective for removing heavy metals, degrading organic pollutants and killing bacteria. Highlight: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Ionothermal synthesis of BiOBr microspheres with hierarchical structure. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Efficient mass transfer and excellent light-harvesting ability. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Suitable for removing heavy metals and treatment of organic dyes. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Remarkable photocatalytic bactericidal property. - Abstract: Bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr) micropsheres with hierarchical morphologies have been fabricated via an ionothermal synthesis route. Ionic liquid acts as a unique soft material capable of promoting nucleation and in situ growth of 3D hierarchical BiOBr mesocrystals without the help of surfactants. The as-prepared BiOBr nanomaterials can effectively remove heavy metal ions and organic dyes from wastewater. They can also kill Micrococcus lylae, a Gram positive bacterium, in water under fluorescent light irradiation. Their high adaptability in water treatment may be ascribed to their hierarchical structure, allowing them high surface to volume ratio, facile species transportation and excellent light-harvesting ability.

Ionothermal synthesis of hierarchical BiOBr microspheres for water treatment

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang, Dieqing; Wen, Meicheng; Jiang, Bo; Li, Guisheng; Yu, Jimmy C.

2012-01-01

Graphical abstract: Hierarchical BiOBr microspheres were prepared from a bromine-containing ionic liquid. The material was found effective for removing heavy metals, degrading organic pollutants and killing bacteria. Highlight: ► Ionothermal synthesis of BiOBr microspheres with hierarchical structure. ► Efficient mass transfer and excellent light-harvesting ability. ► Suitable for removing heavy metals and treatment of organic dyes. ► Remarkable photocatalytic bactericidal property. - Abstract: Bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr) micropsheres with hierarchical morphologies have been fabricated via an ionothermal synthesis route. Ionic liquid acts as a unique soft material capable of promoting nucleation and in situ growth of 3D hierarchical BiOBr mesocrystals without the help of surfactants. The as-prepared BiOBr nanomaterials can effectively remove heavy metal ions and organic dyes from wastewater. They can also kill Micrococcus lylae, a Gram positive bacterium, in water under fluorescent light irradiation. Their high adaptability in water treatment may be ascribed to their hierarchical structure, allowing them high surface to volume ratio, facile species transportation and excellent light-harvesting ability.

Solar photocatalytic degradation and detoxification of EU priority substances

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hincapie, M. [Facultad de Ingeniera Ambiental, Universidad de Medellin, Carrera 87 No. 30-65, P.O. Box 1983, Medellin (Colombia); Maldonado, M.I.; Oller, I.; Gernjak, W.; Malato, S. [Plataforma Solar de Almeria-CIEMAT, Carretera Senes km4, 04200 Tabernas (Almeria) (Spain); Sanchez-Perez, J.A.; Ballesteros, M.M. [Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica, Universidad de Almeria Crta de Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almeria (Spain)

2005-04-15

Several different pesticides (alachlor, atrazine, chlorfenvinphos, diuron, isoproturon and pentachlorophenol) considered PS (priority substances) by the European Commission and dissolved in water at 50mg/L (or at maximum water solubility) have been degraded at pilot-plant scale using photo-Fenton and TiO{sub 2} photocatalysis driven by solar energy. Two different iron concentrations (2 and 55mg/L) and TiO{sub 2} at 200mg/L have been tested and discussed, using mainly TOC mineralisation for comparison of treatment effectiveness. Vibrio fischeri (Microtox{sup (}R)) toxicity assays were also employed for evaluating the photocatalytic treatments, and comparison between these results and parent compound disappearance, TOC evolution and anion (or ammonia) release were discussed. Almost complete mineralisation and total detoxification were always attained. It has been demonstrated that evolution of chloride could be a key-parameter for predicting toxicity of chlorinated compounds.

Fabrication of Ni-doped BiVO_4 semiconductors with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performances for wastewater treatment

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Regmi, Chhabilal; Kshetri, Yuwaraj K.; Kim, Tae-Ho; Pandey, Ramesh Prasad; Ray, Schindra Kumar; Lee, Soo Wohn

2017-01-01

Highlights: • Synthesis of a Ni-doped BiVO_4 semiconductor photocatalyst with reduced band gap energy. • Ni-doped BiVO_4 provided efficient photocatalytic activity for ibuprofen degradation and E. coli and green tide deactivation. • DFT calculation and thermodynamic modeling to understand the underlying mechanism. - Abstract: A visible-light-driven Ni-doped BiVO_4 photocatalyst was synthesized using a microwave hydrothermal method. The nominal Ni doping amount of 1 wt% provided excellent photoactivity for a variety of water pollutants, such as ibuprofen (pharmaceutical), Escherichia coli (bacteria), and green tides (phytoplankton). Each Ni-doped BiVO_4 sample exhibits better performance than pure BiVO_4. The degradation of ibuprofen reaches 80% within 90 min, the deactivation of Escherichia coli reaches around 92% within 5 h, and the inactivation of green tide (Chlamydomonas pulsatilla) reaches 70% upon 60 min of the visible light irradiation. The first principle calculation and thermodynamic modeling revealed that Ni doping in the vanadium site gives the most stable configuration of the synthesized samples with the formation of an in-gap energy state and oxygen vacancies. The in-gap energy state and the oxygen vacancies serve as an electron-trapping center that decreases the migration time of the photogenerated carrier and increases the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs, which are responsible for the observed efficient photocatalytic, anti-bacterial and anti-algal activity of the samples. These properties thus suggest potential applications of Ni-doped BiVO_4 as a multifunctional material in the field of wastewater treatment.

Photocatalytic Oxidation of Trichloroethylene in Water Using a Porous Ball of Nano-ZnO and Nanoclay Composite

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Sol-A Bak

2015-01-01

Full Text Available The presence of nondegradable organic compounds and xenobiotic chemicals in water is a great concern for the general public because of their polar properties and toxicity. For instance, trichloroethylene (TCE is a widely used solvent in the chemical industry, and it is also a contaminant of soil, surface water, and groundwater. Recent studies on new treatment technologies have shown that photocatalyst-based advanced oxidation processes are appropriate for removing these polar and toxic compounds from water. The objective of this study was to remove TCE from water using novel nano-ZnO-laponite porous balls prepared from photocatalyst ZnO with nanoscale laponite. These nano-ZnO-laponite porous balls have a porosity of approximately 20%. A lower initial concentration of TCE resulted in high removal efficiency. Moreover, the removal efficiency increased with increasing pH in the photocatalytic degradation experiments employing UVC light with nano-ZnO-laponite. The optimal dosage of nano-ZnO-laponite was 30 g and the use of UVC light resulted in a higher removal efficiency than that achieved with UVA light. In addition, the removal efficiency of TCE significantly increased with increasing light intensity. We think that TCE’s removal in water by using porous ball of nano-ZnO and nanoclay composite is a result of degradation from hydroxide by photons of nano-ZnO and physical absorption in nanoclay.

Highly photocatalytic TiO_2 interconnected porous powder fabricated by sponge-templated atomic layer deposition

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pan, Shengqiang; Zhao, Yuting; Huang, Gaoshan; Li, Menglin; Mei, Yongfeng; Wang, Jiao; Zheng, Lirong; Baunack, Stefan; Schmidt, Oliver G; Gemming, Thomas

2015-01-01

A titanium dioxide (TiO_2) interconnected porous structure has been fabricated by means of atomic layer deposition of TiO_2 onto a reticular sponge template. The obtained freestanding TiO_2 with large surface area can be easily taken out of the water to solve a complex separation procedure. A compact and conformal nanocoating was evidenced by morphologic characterization. A phase transition, as well as production of oxygen vacancies with increasing annealing temperature, was detected by x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The photocatalytic experimental results demonstrated that the powder with appropriate annealing treatment possessed excellent photocatalytic ability due to the co-action of high surface area, oxygen vacancies and the optimal crystal structure. (paper)

Impact of water quality on removal of carbamazepine in natural waters by N-doped TiO{sub 2} photo-catalytic thin film surfaces

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Avisar, Dror, E-mail: drorvi@post.tau.ac.il [The Hydro-Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Geography and the Environment, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978 (Israel); Horovitz, Inna [The Hydro-Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Geography and the Environment, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978 (Israel); School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978 (Israel); Lozzi, Luca; Ruggieri, Fabrizio [Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, I-67010 Coppito, L’Aquila (Italy); Baker, Mark; Abel, Marie-Laure [The Surface Analysis Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH (United Kingdom); Mamane, Hadas [School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978 (Israel)

2013-01-15

Highlights: ► N-doped TiO{sub 2} thin films have been deposited by sol–gel dip-coating. ► CBZ removal improved with increasing medium pH in the range of 5–9. ► DOC at a concentration of 5 mg/L resulted in an ∼20% reduction in CBZ removal. ► Alkalinity values of 100 mg/L as CaCO{sub 3} resulted in a 40% decrease in CBZ removal. ► Complete suppression of the photocatalytic process in wastewater effluent. -- Abstract: Photocatalytic experiments on the pharmaceutical pollutant carbamazepine (CBZ) were conducted using sol–gel nitrogen-doped TiO{sub 2}-coated glass slides under a solar simulator. CBZ was stable to photodegradation under direct solar irradiation. No CBZ sorption to the catalyst surface was observed, as further confirmed by surface characterization using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis of N-doped TiO{sub 2} surfaces. When exposing the catalyst surface to natural organic matter (NOM), an excess amount of carbon was detected relative to controls, which is consistent with NOM remaining on the catalyst surface. The catalyst surface charge was negative at pH values from 4 to 10 and decreased with increasing pH, correlated with enhanced CBZ removal with increasing medium pH in the range of 5–9. A dissolved organic carbon concentration of 5 mg/L resulted in ∼20% reduction in CBZ removal, probably due to competitive inhibition of the photocatalytic degradation of CBZ. At alkalinity values corresponding to CaCO{sub 3} addition at 100 mg/L, an over 40% decrease in CBZ removal was observed. A 35% reduction in CBZ occurred in the presence of surface water compared to complete suppression of the photocatalytic process in wastewater effluent.

Photocatalytic degradation of dissolved organic matter in the ground water employing TiO2 film supported on stainless steel plate

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Andayani, W.; Sumartono, A.; Lindu, M.

2012-01-01

The Taman Palem Residences, Cengkareng, Indonesia has a groundwater problem as a main sources of drinking water in the area due to yellowish brown colour of the water, that may come from dissolved organic matter (DOM), humic substances. Photocatalytic degradation using TiO 2 coated on a stainless steel plate (8 x 8 cm) to degrade the dissolved organic matter was studied. Groundwater samples were collected at 150 m deep from Taman Palem Residences. The TiO 2 catalyst was made from deep coating in a sol-gel system of titanium (IV) diisopropoxidebisacetylacetonate (TAA) precursor and immobilized at stainless steel plate (8 x 8 cm), followed by calcination at 525°C. Two catalyst sheets were put in batch reactor containing groundwater. The ground water containing DOM were irradiated by UV black light at varying initial pH values i.e 5, 7 and 9. Sampling of solution was taken at the interval time of 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours. DOM residu in water before and after irradiation were measured by spectrophotometer UV-Vis at 300 nm. Photocatalytic degradation of DOM was greater in acid solution than in basic solution. The determination of intermediate degradation products by HPLC revealed that oxalic acid was detected consistently. (author)

Ag-Decorated ATaO3 (A = K, Na) Nanocube Plasmonic Photocatalysts with Enhanced Photocatalytic Water-Splitting Properties.

Science.gov (United States)

Xu, Dongbo; Yang, Songbo; Jin, Yu; Chen, Min; Fan, Weiqiang; Luo, Bifu; Shi, Weidong

2015-09-08

Tantalate semiconductor nanocrystals have been at the forefront of the photocatalytic conversion of solar energy to supply hydrogen owing to their favorable and tunable optical and electronic properties as well as advances in their synthesis. However, a narrow band gap is required for response to improve the efficiency of the photocatalysts. Here we propose an efficient enhancement of the H2 generation under simulated sunlight and visible light irradiation by a dispersion of Ag-decorated KTaO3 and NaTaO3 nanocubes. X-ray diffraction and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra are used to characterize the products. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and high-resolution high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM (HAADF-STEM) images show that the Ag nanoparticles (NPs) are uniformly loaded on the surfaces of KTaO3 and NaTaO3. The photocatalytic water-splitting results over Ag-decorated KTaO3 and NaTaO3 show that the rate for H2 evolution from aqueous CH3OH solutions is up to 185.60 and 3.54 μmol/h·g under simulated sunlight and the rate for H2 evolution is more than 2 times than that of pure NaTaO3 and KTaO3 materials. However, under purely visible light illumination the highest H2 evolution of 25.94 and 0.83 μmol/h·g is observed in the case of Ag-decorated KTaO3 and NaTaO3 nanocubes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the photocatalytic water-splitting activity of the prepared Ag-decorated KTaO3 and NaTaO3 nanocubes has been reported.

APPLICATION OF PHOTOCATALYTIC PROCESS FOR REMOVAL OF METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER FROM HIGHLYCONTAMINATED WATER

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

A. Mesdaghinia

2007-09-01

Full Text Available The oxygenate methyl tert-butyl ether is added to gasoline to increase the octane level and to reduce carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions by vehicles. The high mobility, water solubility, and resistance to natural attenuation associated with methyl tert-butyl ether may result in contamination of ground and surface waters. In this research the degradation of aqueous methyl tert-butyl ether at relatively high concentrations was investigated by UV-vis/TiO2/H2O2 photocatalytic process. The effect of important operational parameters such as pH, amount of H2O2, catalyst loading, and irradiation time were also studied. Concentrations of methyl tert-butyl ether and intermediates such as tert-butyl formate and tert-butyl alcohol were measured over a 180 min period using a gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization detector and combined with headspace sampler. Results showed that the time required for complete degradation increased from 30 to 180min, when the initial concentration was increased from 10 to 500mg/L. The first order rate constant for degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether from the hydroxyl radical was estimated to be 0.177 to 0.022 1/min as the concentration increased from 10 to 500mg/L. Study on the overall mineralization monitored by total organic carbon (TOC analysis showed that in the initial concentration of 100mg/L methyl tert-butyl ether, complete mineralization was obtained after 110min under UV-vis/TiO2/H2O2 photocatalytic process.

Synergistic effect of N- and F-codoping on the structure and photocatalytic performance of TiO2.

Science.gov (United States)

Yu, Jiemei; Liu, Zongming; Zhang, Haitao; Huang, Taizhong; Han, Jitian; Zhang, Yihe; Chong, Daohuang

2015-02-01

Three types of TiO2 nanostructures were synthesized via a facile hydrolysis method at 195°C. Effects of the preparation method and doping with N and F on the crystal structure and photocatalytic performance of TiO2 were investigated. The nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller porosimetry, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and fluorescent emission spectra. Their photo-catalytic activity was examined by the photodegradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution under both ultra-violet and visible light irradiation. The results show that nitrogen and fluorine co-doped anatase TiO2 had the characteristics of a smaller crystalline size, broader light absorption spectrum and lower charge recombination than pure TiO2. Most importantly, more efficient photocatalytic activity under both ultra-violet and visible light was observed. The obtained N-F-TiO2 nanomaterial shows considerable potential for water treatment under sunlight irradiation. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Evaluation of synergy and bacterial regrowth in photocatalytic ozonation disinfection of municipal wastewater.

Science.gov (United States)

Mecha, Achisa C; Onyango, Maurice S; Ochieng, Aoyi; Momba, Maggy N B

2017-12-01

The use of solar and ultraviolet titanium dioxide photocatalytic ozonation processes to inactivate waterborne pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Shigella species and Vibrio cholerae) in synthetic water and secondary municipal wastewater effluent is presented. The performance indicators were bacterial inactivation efficiency, post-disinfection regrowth and synergy effects (collaboration) between ozonation and photocatalysis (photocatalytic ozonation). Photocatalytic ozonation effectively inactivated the target bacteria and positive synergistic interactions were observed, leading to synergy indices (SI) of up to 1.86 indicating a performance much higher than that of ozonation and photocatalysis individually (SI≤1, no synergy; SI>1 shows synergy between the two processes). Furthermore, there was a substantial reduction in contact time required for complete bacterial inactivation by 50-75% compared to the individual unit processes of ozonation and photocatalysis. Moreover, no post-treatment bacterial regrowth after 24 and 48h in the dark was observed. Therefore, the combined processes overcame the limitations of the individual unit processes in terms of the suppression of bacterial reactivation and regrowth owing to the fact that bacterial cells were irreparably damaged. The treated wastewater satisfied the bacteriological requirements in treated wastewater for South Africa. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Facile One-Step Sonochemical Synthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of Graphene/Ag3PO4 Quantum Dots Composites

Science.gov (United States)

Reheman, Abulajiang; Tursun, Yalkunjan; Dilinuer, Talifu; Halidan, Maimaiti; Kadeer, Kuerbangnisha; Abulizi, Abulikemu

2018-03-01

In this study, a novel graphene/Ag3PO4 quantum dot (rGO/Ag3PO4 QD) composite was successfully synthesized via a facile one-step photo-ultrasonic-assisted reduction method for the first time. The composites were analyzed by various techniques. According to the obtained results, Ag3PO4 QDs with a size of 1-4 nm were uniformly dispersed on rGO nanosheets to form rGO/Ag3PO4 QD composites. The photocatalytic activity of rGO/Ag3PO4 QD composites was evaluated by the decomposition of methylene blue (MB). Meanwhile, effects of the surfactant dosage and the amount of rGO on the photocatalytic activity were also investigated. It was found that rGO/Ag3PO4 QDs (WrGO:Wcomposite = 2.3%) composite exhibited better photocatalytic activity and stability with degrading 97.5% of MB within 5 min. The improved photocatalytic activities and stabilities were majorly related to the synergistic effect between Ag3PO4 QDs and rGO with high specific surface area, which gave rise to efficient interfacial transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes on both materials. Moreover, possible formation and photocatalytic mechanisms of rGO/Ag3PO4 QDs were proposed. The obtained rGO/Ag3PO4 QDs photocatalysts would have great potentials in sewage treatment and water splitting.

The role of calcium ions in the photocatalytic oxidation of humic acid at neutral pH.

Science.gov (United States)

Mariquit, Eden G; Salim, Chris; Hinode, Hirofumi

2008-10-01

Humic acids (HAs) are natural organic matter derived from the decomposition of plant, algal, and microbial materials. They belong to the group of the most predominant type of natural organic matter present in ground and surface waters. HAs affect the mobility and bioavailability of aquatic contaminants. However, if they are left unremoved from the water before water treatment processes, they can form carcinogenic disinfection by-products, such as trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and other halogenated disinfection by-products, that can pose a threat to human beings. An advanced oxidation process using UV light and a commercially available titanium dioxide was used to oxidize HA at a pH that is similar to that of natural water. The effect of adding calcium ions to the adsorption and the photocatalytic oxidation of HAs was studied. The effect of varying the TiO(2) load was also investigated. The experiment was done using a photochemical batch reactor equipped with a mercury lamp emitting light with wavelengths of 310-580 nm. The absorbances by the samples were determined at wavelengths of 254 nm and 436 nm, which represent the aromatic-compound content of and the color of the solution, respectively. Results indicated calcium ions have an effect on both the adsorption and the photocatalytic oxidation of HA at a pH within 8.0 +/- 0.5. Calcium ions facilitated adsorption of HA onto the surface of TiO(2) and resulted to faster photocatalytic oxidation. The data were plotted with respect to the normalized absorbances and irradiation time.

Photocatalytic reforming of biomass for hydrogen production

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Ripken, R.M.; de Boer, V.J.H.W.; Gardeniers, J.G.E.; le Gac, S.

2017-01-01

Here, we describe a novel microfluidic device to determine the required bandgap for the photocatalytic reforming of biomass model substrates (ethylene glycol, glycerol, xylose and xylitol) in water. Furthermore, this device is applied to eventually elucidate the reaction mechanism of aqueous

Potential of Nanotechnology based water treatment solutions for the improvement of drinking water supplies in developing countries

Science.gov (United States)

Dutta, Joydeep; Bhattacharya, Prosun; Bundschuh, Jochen

2016-04-01

Over the last decades explosive population growth in the world has led to water scarcity across the globe putting additional pressure already scarce ground water resources and is pushing scientists and researchers to come up with new alternatives to monitor and treat water for use by mankind and for food security. Nearly 4 billion people around the world are known to lack access to clean water supply. Systematic water quality data is important for the assessment of health risks as well as for developing appropriate and affordable technologies for waste and drinking water treatments, and long-term decision making policy against water quality management. Traditional water treatment technologies are generally chemical-intensive processes requiring extremely large infrastructural support thus limiting their effective applications in developing nations which creates an artificial barrier to the application of technological solutions for the provision of clean water. Nanotechnology-based systems are in retrospect, smaller, energy and resource efficient. Economic impact assessment of the implementation of nanotechnology in water treatment and studies on cost-effectiveness and environmental and social impacts is of key importance prior to its wide spread acceptance. Government agencies and inter-governmental bodies driving research and development activities need to measure the effective potential of nanotechnology as a solution to global water challenges in order to effectively engage in fiscal, economic and social issues at national and international levels for different types of source waters with new national and international initiatives on nanotechnology and water need to be launched. Environmental pollution and industrialization in global scale is further leading to pollution of available water sources and thus hygienically friendly purification technologies are the need of the hour. Thus cost-effective treatment of pollutants for the transformation of hazardous

Simultaneously photocatalytic treatment of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) using rotating reactor under solar irradiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kim, Youngji; Joo, Hyunku; Her, Namguk; Yoon, Yeomin; Sohn, Jinsik; Kim, Sungpyo; Yoon, Jaekyung

2015-01-01

Highlights: • Self-rotating reactor including TiO 2 NTs is applied under solar irradiation. • Simultaneously photocatalysis of Cr(VI) and EDCs is observed to be up to 95%. • Photocatalytic reactions of Cr(VI) and EDCs are favorable under acidic pH. • Charge interaction and hole scavenge between TiO 2 and pollutants are synergy factors. - Abstract: In this study, simultaneous treatments, reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and oxidation of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), such as bisphenol A (BPA), 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and 17β-estradiol (E2), were investigated with a rotating photocatalytic reactor including TiO 2 nanotubes formed on titanium mesh substrates under solar UV irradiation. In the laboratory tests with a rotating type I reactor, synergy effects of the simultaneous photocatalytic reduction and oxidation of inorganic (Cr(VI)) and organic (BPA) pollutants were achieved. Particularly, the concurrent photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and oxidation of BPA was higher under acidic conditions. The enhanced reaction efficiency of both pollutants was attributed to a stronger charge interaction between TiO 2 nanotubes (positive charge) and the anionic form of Cr(VI) (negative charge), which are prevented recombination (electron–hole pair) by the hole scavenging effect of BPA. In the extended outdoor tests with a rotating type II reactor under solar irradiation, the experiment was extended to examine the simultaneous reduction of Cr(VI) in the presence of additional EDCs, such as EE2 and E2 as well as BPA. The findings showed that synergic effect of both photocatalytic reduction and oxidation was confirmed with single-component (Cr(VI) only), two-components (Cr(VI)/BPA, Cr(VI)/EE2, and Cr(VI)/E2), and four-components (Cr(VI)/BPA/EE2/E2) under various solar irradiation conditions

Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of graphene based doped TiO2 nanocomposites

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gu, Yongji; Xing, Mingyang; Zhang, Jinlong

2014-01-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Graphene based doped TiO 2 nanocomposites were prepared. • The intimate contact between doped TiO 2 and graphene is achieved simultaneously. • These nanocomposites showed higher photocatalytic activity than TiO 2 and doped TiO 2 . • Photocatalytic mechanism was explained thoroughly. - Abstract: The nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide based nitrogen doped TiO 2 (N–TiO 2 –RGO) and reduced graphene oxide based nitrogen and vanadium co-doped TiO 2 (N, V–TiO 2 –RGO) were prepared via a facile hydrothermal reaction of graphene oxide and TiO 2 in a water solvent. In this hydrothermal treatment, the reduction of graphene oxide and the intimate contact between nitrogen doped TiO 2 (N–TiO 2 ) or nitrogen and vanadium co-doped TiO 2 (N,V–TiO 2 ) and the RGO sheet is achieved simultaneously. Both N–TiO 2 –RGO and N,V–TiO 2 –RGO nanocomposites exhibit much higher visible light photocatalytic activity than N–TiO 2 and N,V–TiO 2 , and the order of visible light photocatalytic activity is N,V–TiO 2 –RGO > N–TiO 2 –RGO > N,V–TiO 2 > N–TiO 2 > TiO 2 . According to the characterization, the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites is attributed to reasons, such as enhancement of adsorption of pollutants, light absorption intensity, minimizing the recombination of photoinduced electrons and holes and more excited states of these nanocomposites under visible light irradiation. Overall, this work provides a more marked contrast of graphene based semiconductor nanocomposites and a more comprehensive explanation of the mechanism

Band gap-engineered ZnO and Ag/ZnO by ball-milling method and their photocatalytic and Fenton-like photocatalytic activities

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Choi, Young In; Jung, Hye Jin; Shin, Weon Gyu; Sohn, Youngku

2015-01-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Ag/ZnO hybrid materials were prepared by a ball-milling method. • Adsorption and photocatalytic dye degradation were tested for pure RhB under visible light. • Adsorption and photocatalytic dye degradation were tested for mixed dye (MO + RhB + MB) under visible light. • Fenton-like photocatalytic activity (H 2 O 2 addition effects) was examined. - Abstract: The hybridization of ZnO with Ag has been performed extensively to increase the efficiency of ZnO in various applications, including catalysis. In this study, a wet (w) and dry (d) ball-milling method was used to hybridize Ag with ZnO nanoparticles, and their physicochemical properties were examined. Visible light absorption was enhanced and the band gap was engineered by ball-milling and Ag hybridization. Their photocatalytic activities were tested with rhodamine B (RhB) and a mixed dye (methyl orange + RhB + methylene blue) under visible light irradiation. For pure RhB, the photocatalytic activity was decreased by ball-milling and was observed in the order of ZnO(d) < Ag/ZnO(d) < ZnO(w) < Ag/ZnO(w) ≤ ZnO(ref). For the degradation of RhB and methylene blue (MB) in the mixed dye (or the simulated real contaminated water), the photocatalytic activity was observed in the order of Ag/ZnO(d) < ZnO(d) < ZnO(w) < Ag/ZnO(w) ≤ ZnO(ref). When the photodegradation tested with H 2 O 2 addition, however, the Fenton-like photocatalytic activity was reversed and the ZnO(ref) showed the poorest activity for the degradation of RhB and methylene blue (MB). In the mixed dye over all the catalysts, methyl orange (MO) was degraded most rapidly. The relative degradation rates of RhB and MB were found to be dependent on the catalyst and reaction conditions.

Fabrication of Ni-doped BiVO{sub 4} semiconductors with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performances for wastewater treatment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Regmi, Chhabilal [Department of Environmental and Biochemical Engineering, Sun Moon University, Chungnam 31460 (Korea, Republic of); Kshetri, Yuwaraj K. [Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, Sun Moon University, Chungnam 31460 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Tae-Ho [Division of Mechanics and ICT Convergence Engineering, Sun Moon University, Chungnam 31460 (Korea, Republic of); Pandey, Ramesh Prasad [Institute of Biomolecule Reconstruction, Department of BT-Convergent Pharmaceutical Engineering, Sun Moon University, Chungnam 31460 (Korea, Republic of); Ray, Schindra Kumar [Department of Environmental and Biochemical Engineering, Sun Moon University, Chungnam 31460 (Korea, Republic of); Lee, Soo Wohn, E-mail: swlee@sunmoon.ac.kr [Department of Environmental and Biochemical Engineering, Sun Moon University, Chungnam 31460 (Korea, Republic of)

2017-08-15

Highlights: • Synthesis of a Ni-doped BiVO{sub 4} semiconductor photocatalyst with reduced band gap energy. • Ni-doped BiVO{sub 4} provided efficient photocatalytic activity for ibuprofen degradation and E. coli and green tide deactivation. • DFT calculation and thermodynamic modeling to understand the underlying mechanism. - Abstract: A visible-light-driven Ni-doped BiVO{sub 4} photocatalyst was synthesized using a microwave hydrothermal method. The nominal Ni doping amount of 1 wt% provided excellent photoactivity for a variety of water pollutants, such as ibuprofen (pharmaceutical), Escherichia coli (bacteria), and green tides (phytoplankton). Each Ni-doped BiVO{sub 4} sample exhibits better performance than pure BiVO{sub 4}. The degradation of ibuprofen reaches 80% within 90 min, the deactivation of Escherichia coli reaches around 92% within 5 h, and the inactivation of green tide (Chlamydomonas pulsatilla) reaches 70% upon 60 min of the visible light irradiation. The first principle calculation and thermodynamic modeling revealed that Ni doping in the vanadium site gives the most stable configuration of the synthesized samples with the formation of an in-gap energy state and oxygen vacancies. The in-gap energy state and the oxygen vacancies serve as an electron-trapping center that decreases the migration time of the photogenerated carrier and increases the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs, which are responsible for the observed efficient photocatalytic, anti-bacterial and anti-algal activity of the samples. These properties thus suggest potential applications of Ni-doped BiVO{sub 4} as a multifunctional material in the field of wastewater treatment.

Photocatalytic Membrane Reactor for the Removal of C.I. Disperse Red 73

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Valentina Buscio

2015-06-01

Full Text Available After the dyeing process, part of the dyes used to color textile materials are not fixed into the substrate and are discharged into wastewater as residual dyes. In this study, a heterogeneous photocatalytic process combined with microfiltration has been investigated for the removal of C.I. Disperse Red 73 from synthetic textile effluents. The titanium dioxide (TiO2 Aeroxide P25 was selected as photocatalyst. The photocatalytic treatment achieved between 60% and 90% of dye degradation and up to 98% chemical oxygen demand (COD removal. The influence of different parameters on photocatalytic degradation was studied: pH, initial photocatalyst loading, and dye concentration. The best conditions for dye degradation were pH 4, an initial dye concentration of 50 mg·L−1, and a TiO2 loading of 2 g·L−1. The photocatalytic membrane treatment provided a high quality permeate, which can be reused.

Photocatalytic oxidation of a reactive azo dye and evaluation of the ...

African Journals Online (AJOL)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the photocatalytic oxidation of a reactive azo dye and determine the improvement in the biodegradability when photocatalytic oxidation was used as a pretreatment step prior to biological treatment. The results obtained from the experiments adding H2O2/TiO2 show that the ...

Stable Photocatalytic Paints Prepared from Hybrid Core-Shell Fluorinated/Acrylic/TiO2 Waterborne Dispersions

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Audrey Bonnefond

2016-10-01

Full Text Available The contamination of air and water is one of the major concerns towards the development of a sustainable world in the 21st century. In this context many efforts are devoted to the design of photocatalytic paints able to degrade chemical and biological impurities present in air and water. In this work, the photocatalytic activity of hybrid films formed from the blends of pure acrylic or core/shell fluorinated/acrylic waterborne dispersions and photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO2 nanoparticle dispersions was first assessed. The films show photocatalytic activity (inactivation of the Escherichia coli bacteria under UV irradiation at the substrate-film interface, but very reduced activity in the air-film interface due to the substantially lower amount of the TiO2 nanoparticles in the vicinity of this interface. In a second step, the fluorinated/(methacrylic core-shell hybrid dispersions were used as binders in the formulation of waterborne photocatalytic paints and the stability of the paints, in terms of gloss retain and color change, was assessed during 5000 hours of accelerated weathering tests (QUV-B. Although a decrease in gloss retention and increased color change occurs during the first 1000 hours of exposure, no further change of these properties takes place, which is an excellent indication of stable photocatalytic paints.

Solar Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Water Using a Dual Bed Photosystem - Phase I Final Report and Phase II Proposal; FINAL

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Clovis A. Linkous; Darlene K. Slattery

2000-01-01

In this work we are attempting to perform the highly efficient storage of solar energy in the form of H(sub 2) via photocatalytic decomposition of water. While it has been demonstrated that H(sub 2) and O(sub 2) can be evolved from a single vessel containing a single suspended photocatalyst (Sayama 1994; 1997), we are attempting to perform net water-splitting by using two photocatalysts immobilized in separate containers, or beds. A schematic showing how the device would work is shown

Titania nano-coated quartz wool for the photocatalytic mineralisation of emerging organic contaminants.

Science.gov (United States)

Saracino, M; Pretali, L; Capobianco, M L; Emmi, S S; Navacchia, M L; Bezzi, F; Mingazzini, C; Burresi, E; Zanelli, A

2018-01-01

Many emerging contaminants pass through conventional wastewater treatment plants, contaminating surface and drinking water. The implementation of advanced oxidation processes in existing plants for emerging contaminant remediation is one of the challenges for the enhancement of water quality in the industrialised countries. This paper reports on the production of a TiO 2 nano-layer on quartz wool in a relevant amount, its characterisation by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and its use as a photocatalyst under ultraviolet radiation for the simultaneous mineralisation of five emerging organic contaminants (benzophenone-3, benzophenone-4, carbamazepine, diclofenac, and triton X-100) dissolved in deionised water and tap water. This treatment was compared with direct ultraviolet photolysis and with photocatalytic degradation on commercial TiO 2 micropearls. The disappearance of every pollutant was measured by high performance liquid chromatography and mineralisation was assessed by the determination of total organic carbon. After 4 hours of treatment with the TiO 2 nano-coated quartz wool, the mineralisation exceeds 90% in deionised water and is about 70% in tap water. This catalyst was reused for seven cycles without significant efficiency loss.

Integration of membrane filtration and photoelectrocatalysis using a TiO{sub 2}/carbon/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} membrane for enhanced water treatment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wang, Guanlong; Chen, Shuo, E-mail: shuochen@dlut.edu.cn; Yu, Hongtao; Quan, Xie

2015-12-15

Highlights: • Membrane filtration was integrated with photoelectrocatalysis for water treatment. • This integrated process (PECM) displays good antifouling capacity in NOMs removal. • PECM process enables efficient removal of chemical contaminants (e.g., RhB). • Enhanced charge separation of PECM process leads to its improved performance. - Abstract: Coupling membrane filtration with photocatalysis provides multifunction involving filtration and photocatalytic degradation for removing pollutants from water, but the performance of photocatalytic membrane is limited due to the quick recombination of photogenerated electron-holes in photocatalytic layer. Herein, a TiO{sub 2}/carbon/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} membrane was designed and constructed through sequentially depositing graphitic carbon layer with good electro-conductivity and TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles layer with photocatalytic activity on Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} membrane support. When light irradiated on the membrane with a voltage supply, the photogenerated electrons could be drained from photocatalytic layer and separated with holes efficiently, thus endowing the membrane with photoelectrocatalytic function. Membrane performance tests indicated that the photoelectrocatalytic membrane filtration (PECM) showed improved removal of natural organic matters (NOMs) and permeate flux with increasing voltage supply. For PECM process at 1.0 V, its NOMs removal was 1.2 or 1.7 times higher than that of filtration with UV irradiation or filtration alone, and its stable permeate flux was 1.3 or 3 times higher than that of filtration with UV irradiation or filtration alone. Moreover, the PECM process exhibited special advantage in removing organic chemicals (e.g., Rhodamine B), which displayed 1.3 or 3 times higher removal than that of filtration with UV irradiation or filtration alone.

Surface characterisation and photocatalytic performance of N-doped TiO{sub 2} thin films deposited onto 200 nm pore size alumina membranes by sol–gel methods

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Grilli, R., E-mail: r.grilli@surrey.ac.uk [The Surface Analysis Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH (United Kingdom); Di Camillo, D.; Lozzi, L. [Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche e Chimiche, Università degli Studi dell' Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67010 Coppito, L' Aquila (Italy); Horovitz, I.; Mamane, H.; Avisar, D. [School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978 (Israel); Baker, M.A. [The Surface Analysis Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH (United Kingdom)

2015-06-01

Membrane filtration is employed for water treatment and wastewater reclamation purposes, but membranes alone are unable to remove pollutant molecules and certain pathogens. Photocatalytically active N-doped TiO{sub 2} coatings have been deposited by sol–gel onto 200 nm pore size alumina membranes for water treatment applications using two different methods, via pipette droplets or spiral bar applicator. The uncoated and coated membranes were characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). Both coatings showed the presence of N-doped anatase, with a surface coverage between 84 and 92%, and nitrogen concentration (predominantly interstitial) of 0.9 at.%. The spiral bar applicator deposited coatings exhibit a thicker mud-cracked surface layer with limited penetration of the porous membrane, whilst the pipette deposited coatings have mostly penetrated into the bulk of the membrane and a thinner layer is present at the surface. The photocatalytic activity (PCA), measured through the degradation of carbamazepine (CBZ), under irradiation of a solar simulator was 58.6% for the pipette coating and 63.3% for the spiral bar coating. These photocatalytically active N-doped sol–gel coated membranes offer strong potential in forming the fundamental basis of a sunlight based water treatment system. - Highlights: • Sol gel N-doped TiO{sub 2} thin films were deposited on 200 nm pore size Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} membranes. • Two sol–gel methods have been compared – pipette drop and spiral bar deposition. • The coatings showed a similar microstructure and composition but different morphology. • The PCA (degradation of carbamazepine) was ∼60% for both sol–gel coatings. • The coated membranes are promising for use in a membrane based water treatment system.

Preparation of self-cleaning surfaces with a dual functionality of superhydrophobicity and photocatalytic activity

Science.gov (United States)

Park, Eun Ji; Yoon, Hye Soo; Kim, Dae Han; Kim, Yong Ho; Kim, Young Dok

2014-11-01

Thin film of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was deposited on SiO2 nanoparticles by chemical vapor deposition, and SiO2 became completely hydrophobic after PDMS coating. Mixtures of TiO2 and PDMS-coated SiO2 nanoparticles with various relative ratios were prepared, and distributed on glass surfaces, and water contact angles and photocatalytic activities of these surfaces were studied. Samples consisting of TiO2 and PDMS-coated SiO2 with a ratio of 7:3 showed a highly stable superhydrophobicity under UV irradiation with a water contact angle of 165° and UV-driven photocatalytic activity for decomposition of methylene blue and phenol in aqueous solution. Our process can be exploited for fabricating self-cleaning surfaces with dual functionality of superhydrophobicity and photocatalytic activity at the same time.

Glutatione modified ultrathin SnS2 nanosheets with highly photocatalytic activity for wastewater treatment

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wei, Renjie; Zhou, Tengfei; Hu, Juncheng; Li, Jinlin

2014-01-01

L-Glutatione (GSH) modified ultrathin SnS 2 nanosheets were successfully synthesized via a one-pot, facile and rapid solvothermal approach. During the process, the GSH not only served as the sulfur sources, the structure-directing agent, but also as the surface modified ligands. The as-synthesized samples mainly consist of ultrathin nanosheets with the thickness of about 10 nm. Inspiringly, even under the visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation, the as-synthesized products exhibited highly photocatalytic activities for both the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and the reductive conversion of Cr (VI) in aqueous solution. The superior performance was presented by completely removed the methyl orange and aqueous Cr(VI) in 20 min and 60 min, respectively. It was much higher than the pure samples, which suggested that these obtained photocatalysts have the potential for wastewater treatment in a green way. The high-efficiency of photocatalytic properties could attribute to the ultrathin size of the photocatalysts and the chelation between GSH and Sn (IV), which have the advantages of electron–hole pairs separation. Moreover, modified organic compounds with common electron donors would also enhance the spectral response even to the near infrared region through ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) mechanism. (papers)

DFT investigation on two-dimensional GeS/WS2 van der Waals heterostructure for direct Z-scheme photocatalytic overall water splitting

Science.gov (United States)

Ju, Lin; Dai, Ying; Wei, Wei; Li, Mengmeng; Huang, Baibiao

2018-03-01

Recently, extensive attention has been paid to the direct Z-scheme systems for photocatalytic water splitting where carriers migrate directly between the two semiconductors without a redox mediator. In the present work, the electronic structure and related properties of two-dimensional (2D) van de Waals (vdW) GeS/WX2 (X = O, S, Se, Te) heterojunction are systematically investigated by first-principles calculations. Our results demonstrate that, the GeS/WS2 heterojunction could form a direct Z-scheme system for photocatalytic water splitting, whereas the GeS/WX2 (X = O, Se, Te) can't, because of their respective unsuitable electronic structures. For the GeS/WS2 heterojunction, the GeS and WS2 monolayers serve as photocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reactionand oxygen evolution reaction, respectively. The internal electric field induced by the electron transfer at the interface can promote the separation of photo-generated charge carriers and formation of the interface Z-scheme electron transfer. Remarkably, the designed GeS/WS2 heterojunction not only enhances the hydrogen production activity of GeS and the oxygen production ability of WS2 but also improves the light absorption of the two monolayers by reducing the band gaps. Moreover, it is found that narrowing the interlayer distance could enhance the internal electric field, improving the photocatalytic ability of the vdW heterojunction. This work provides fundamental insights for further design and preparation of emergent metal dichalcogenide catalysts, beneficial for the development in clean energy.

A high-performance doped photocatalysts for inactivation of total coliforms in superficial waters using different sources of radiation.

Science.gov (United States)

Claro, Elis Marina Turini; Bidoia, Ederio Dino; de Moraes, Peterson Bueno

2016-07-15

Photocatalytic water treatment has a currently elevated electricity demand and maintenance costs, but the photocatalytic water treatment may also assist in overcoming the limitations and drawbacks of conventional water treatment processes. Among the Advanced Oxidation Processes, heterogeneous photocatalysis is one of the most widely and efficiently used processes to degrade and/or remove a wide range of polluting compounds. The goal of this work was to find out a highly efficient photocatalytic disinfection process in superficial water with different doped photocatalysts and using three sources of radiation: mercury vapor lamp, solar simulator and UV-A LED. Three doped photocatalysts were prepared, SiZnO, NSiZnO and FNSiZnO. The inactivation efficiency of each synthesized photocatalysts was compared to a TiO2 P25 (Degussa(®)) 0.5 g L(-1) control. Photolysis inactivation efficiency was 85% with UV-A LED, which is considered very high, demanding low electricity consumption in the process, whereas mercury vapor lamp and solar simulator yielded 19% and 13% inactivation efficiency, respectively. The best conditions were found with photocatalysts SiZnO, FNSiZnO and NSiZnO irradiated with UV-A LED, where efficiency exceeded 95% that matched inactivation of coliforms using the same irradiation and photocatalyst TiO2. All photocatalysts showed photocatalytic activity with all three radiation sources able to inactivate total coliforms from river water. The use of UV-A LED as the light source without photocatalyst is very promising, allowing the creation of cost-effective and highly efficient water treatment plants. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Band gap-engineered ZnO and Ag/ZnO by ball-milling method and their photocatalytic and Fenton-like photocatalytic activities

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Choi, Young In [School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541 (Korea, Republic of); Jung, Hye Jin [Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134 (Korea, Republic of); Shin, Weon Gyu, E-mail: wgshin@cnu.ac.kr [Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134 (Korea, Republic of); Sohn, Youngku, E-mail: youngkusohn@ynu.ac.kr [School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541 (Korea, Republic of)

2015-11-30

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Ag/ZnO hybrid materials were prepared by a ball-milling method. • Adsorption and photocatalytic dye degradation were tested for pure RhB under visible light. • Adsorption and photocatalytic dye degradation were tested for mixed dye (MO + RhB + MB) under visible light. • Fenton-like photocatalytic activity (H{sub 2}O{sub 2} addition effects) was examined. - Abstract: The hybridization of ZnO with Ag has been performed extensively to increase the efficiency of ZnO in various applications, including catalysis. In this study, a wet (w) and dry (d) ball-milling method was used to hybridize Ag with ZnO nanoparticles, and their physicochemical properties were examined. Visible light absorption was enhanced and the band gap was engineered by ball-milling and Ag hybridization. Their photocatalytic activities were tested with rhodamine B (RhB) and a mixed dye (methyl orange + RhB + methylene blue) under visible light irradiation. For pure RhB, the photocatalytic activity was decreased by ball-milling and was observed in the order of ZnO(d) < Ag/ZnO(d) < ZnO(w) < Ag/ZnO(w) ≤ ZnO(ref). For the degradation of RhB and methylene blue (MB) in the mixed dye (or the simulated real contaminated water), the photocatalytic activity was observed in the order of Ag/ZnO(d) < ZnO(d) < ZnO(w) < Ag/ZnO(w) ≤ ZnO(ref). When the photodegradation tested with H{sub 2}O{sub 2} addition, however, the Fenton-like photocatalytic activity was reversed and the ZnO(ref) showed the poorest activity for the degradation of RhB and methylene blue (MB). In the mixed dye over all the catalysts, methyl orange (MO) was degraded most rapidly. The relative degradation rates of RhB and MB were found to be dependent on the catalyst and reaction conditions.

Theoretical Investigation of Bismuth-Based Semiconductors for Photocatalytic Applications

KAUST Repository

Laradhi, Shaikhah

2017-11-01

Converting solar energy to clean fuel has gained remarkable attention as an emerged renewable energy resource but optimum efficiency in photocatalytic applications has not yet been reached. One of the dominant factors is designing efficient photocatalytic semiconductors. The research reveals a theoretical investigation of optoelectronic properties of bismuth-based metal oxide and oxysulfide semiconductors using highly accurate first-principles quantum method based on density functional theory along with the range-separated hybrid HSE06 exchange-correlation functional. First, bismuth titanate compounds including Bi12TiO20, Bi4Ti3O12, and Bi2Ti2O7 were studied in a combined experimental and theoretical approach to prove its photocatalytic activity under UV light. They have unique bismuth layered structure, tunable electronic properties, high dielectric constant and low electron and effective masses in one crystallographic direction allowing for good charge separation and carrier diffusion properties. The accuracy of the investigation was determined by the good agreement between experimental and theoretical values. Next, BiVO4 with the highest efficiency for oxygen evolution was investigated. A discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical bandgap was reported and inspired a systematic study of all intrinsic defects of the material and the corresponding effect on the optical and transport properties. A candidate defective structure was proposed for an efficient photocatalytic performance. To overcome the carrier transport limitation, a mild hydrogen treatment was also introduced. Carrier lifetime was enhanced due to a significant reduction of trap-assisted recombination, either via passivation of deep trap states or reduction of trap state density. Finally, an accurate theoretical approach to design a new family of semiconductors with enhanced optoelectronic properties for water splitting was proposed. We simulated the solid solutions Bi1−xRExCuOS (RE = Y, La

2-Photon tandem device for water splitting

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Seger, Brian; Castelli, Ivano Eligio; Vesborg, Peter Christian Kjærgaard

2014-01-01

Within the field Of photocatalytic water splitting there are several strategies to achieve the goal of efficient and cheap photocatalytic water splitting. This work examines one particular strategy by focusing on monolithically stacked, two-photon photoelectrochemical cells. The overall aim...... for photocatalytic water splitting by using a large bandgap photocathode and a low bandgap photoanode with attached protection layers....

Hydrogen Production from Semiconductor-based Photocatalysis via Water Splitting

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jeffrey C. S. Wu

2012-10-01

Full Text Available Hydrogen is the ideal fuel for the future because it is clean, energy efficient, and abundant in nature. While various technologies can be used to generate hydrogen, only some of them can be considered environmentally friendly. Recently, solar hydrogen generated via photocatalytic water splitting has attracted tremendous attention and has been extensively studied because of its great potential for low-cost and clean hydrogen production. This paper gives a comprehensive review of the development of photocatalytic water splitting for generating hydrogen, particularly under visible-light irradiation. The topics covered include an introduction of hydrogen production technologies, a review of photocatalytic water splitting over titania and non-titania based photocatalysts, a discussion of the types of photocatalytic water-splitting approaches, and a conclusion for the current challenges and future prospects of photocatalytic water splitting. Based on the literatures reported here, the development of highly stable visible–light-active photocatalytic materials, and the design of efficient, low-cost photoreactor systems are the key for the advancement of solar-hydrogen production via photocatalytic water splitting in the future.

Solar energy harvesting by magnetic-semiconductor nanoheterostructure in water treatment technology.

Science.gov (United States)

Mahmoodi, Vahid; Bastami, Tahereh Rohani; Ahmadpour, Ali

2018-03-01

Photocatalytic degradation of toxic organic pollutants in the wastewater using dispersed semiconductor nanophotocatalysts has a number of advantages such as high activity, cost effectiveness, and utilization of free solar energy. However, it is difficult to recover and recycle nanophotocatalysts since the fine dispersed nanoparticles are easily suspended in waters. Furthermore, a large amount of photocatalysts will lead to color contamination. Thus, it is necessary to prepare photocatalysts with easy separation for the reusable application. To take advantage of high photocatalysis activity and reusability, magnetic photocatalysts with separation function were utilized. In this review, the photocatalytic principle, structure, and application of the magnetic-semiconductor nanoheterostructure photocatalysts under solar light are evaluated. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITIES of Ag+ DOPED ZIF-8 and ZIF-L CRYSTALS

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Berna Topuz

2016-09-01

Full Text Available Photocatalysis is expected to contribute to the solution of environmental problems such as water and air pollution in the near future. The design of photocatalysts with high electron-hole generation rates, high surface areas and high light absorption capacities is crucial in producing sustainable and cost-effective photocatalytic processes. Titania, zirconia, copper oxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide are widely used photocatalysts which have good light absorption capacities with moderate surface areas depending on the synthesis conditions. In the last decade metal organic frameworks (MOFs have been used in photocatalytic applications due to their very high surface areas up to 1000s of m2/g and adequate light absorption capacities. In this study zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF based MOF photocatalytsts were prepared and the effect of silver (Ag doping on the photocatalytic activity of ZIF-8 and ZIF-L crystals was investigated. Ag doped ZIF-8 and ZIF-L crystals were prepared and their activities in the photocatalytic removal of methylene blue (MB dye under UV irradiation were determined for the first time in the literature. Doped ZIF-8 and ZIF-L crystals showed better photocatalytic activities compared to the undoped crystals. 100% of MB was removed with 5 mole% Ag+ doped ZIF-8 in 40 min. The photocatalytic activity decreased beyond 5% doping level since Ag+ ions may have segregated due to a possible solid state solubility limit of Ag+ ions in the crystal lattice of ZIF-8. ZIF-L crystals possessed lower photocatalytic activities compared to ZIF-8 crystals.

Application of zinc oxide fiber in the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gerchman, D.; Alves, A.K.; Berutti, F.A.; Bergmann, C.P.

2011-01-01

In this work, zinc oxide fibers were obtained by electrospinning using polyvinylbutyral and zinc nitrate as precursors. After the synthesis, the material was heat treated at different temperatures to evaluate the effect of microstructure on its photocatalytic activity. The fibers obtained after heat treatment were characterized for morphology, phases, crystallinity and photocatalytic activity. The photocatalysis reaction was accompanied by the degradation of methyl orange in the presence of zinc oxide under UV illumination. It was observed that the crystallinity of zincite is a fundamental factor for the control of the photocatalytic activity of this material. (author)

Charge transfer between biogenic jarosite derived Fe3+and TiO2 enhances visible light photocatalytic activity of TiO2.

Science.gov (United States)

Chowdhury, Mahabubur; Shoko, Sipiwe; Cummings, Fransciuos; Fester, Veruscha; Ojumu, Tunde Victor

2017-04-01

In this work, we have shown that mining waste derived Fe 3+ can be used to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 . This will allow us to harness a waste product from the mines, and utilize it to enhance TiO 2 photocatalytic waste water treatment efficiency. An organic linker mediated route was utilized to create a composite of TiO 2 and biogenic jarosite. Evidence of FeOTi bonding in the TiO 2 /jarosite composite was apparent from the FTIR, EFTEM, EELS and ELNEFS analysis. The as prepared material showed enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to pristine TiO 2 , biogenic jarosite and mechanically mixed sample of jarosite and TiO 2 under both simulated and natural solar irradiation. The prepared material can reduce the electrical energy consumption by 4 times compared to pristine P25 for degradation of organic pollutant in water. The material also showed good recyclability. Results obtained from sedimentation experiments showed that the larger sized jarosite material provided the surface to TiO 2 nanoparticles, which increases the settling rate of the materials. This allowed simple and efficient recovery of the catalyst from the reaction system after completion of photocatalysis. Enhanced photocatalytic activity of the composite material was due to effective charge transfer between TiO 2 and jarosite derived Fe 3+ as was shown from the EELS and ELNEFS. Generation of OH was supported by photoluminesence (PL) experiments. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Surface spintronics enhanced photo-catalytic hydrogen evolution: Mechanisms, strategies, challenges and future

Science.gov (United States)

Zhang, Wenyan; Gao, Wei; Zhang, Xuqiang; Li, Zhen; Lu, Gongxuan

2018-03-01

Hydrogen is a green energy carrier with high enthalpy and zero environmental pollution emission characteristics. Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (HER) is a sustainable and promising way to generate hydrogen. Despite of great achievements in photocatalytic HER research, its efficiency is still limited due to undesirable electron transfer loss, high HER over-potential and low stability of some photocatalysts, which lead to their unsatisfied performance in HER and anti-photocorrosion properties. In recent years, many spintronics works have shown their enhancing effects on photo-catalytic HER. For example, it was reported that spin polarized photo-electrons could result in higher photocurrents and HER turn-over frequency (up to 200%) in photocatalytic system. Two strategies have been developed for electron spin polarizing, which resort to heavy atom effect and magnetic induction respectively. Both theoretical and experimental studies show that controlling spin state of OHrad radicals in photocatalytic reaction can not only decrease OER over-potential (even to 0 eV) of water splitting, but improve stability and charge lifetime of photocatalysts. A convenient strategy have been developed for aligning spin state of OHrad by utilizing chiral molecules to spin filter photo-electrons. By chiral-induced spin filtering, electron polarization can approach to 74%, which is significantly larger than some traditional transition metal devices. Those achievements demonstrate bright future of spintronics in enhancing photocatalytic HER, nevertheless, there is little work systematically reviewing and analysis this topic. This review focuses on recent achievements of spintronics in photocatalytic HER study, and systematically summarizes the related mechanisms and important strategies proposed. Besides, the challenges and developing trends of spintronics enhanced photo-catalytic HER research are discussed, expecting to comprehend and explore such interdisciplinary research in

Fabrication of visible light-triggered photocatalytic materials from the coupling of n-type zinc oxide and p-type copper oxide

Science.gov (United States)

Gorospe, A. B.; Herrera, M. U.

2017-04-01

Coupling of copper oxide (CuO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) was done by chemical precipitation method. In this method, copper sulfate pentahydrate and zinc sulfate heptahydrate salt precursors were separately dissolved in distilled water; then were mixed together. The copper sulfate-zinc sulfate solution was then combined with a sodium hydroxide solution. The precipitates were collected and washed in distilled water and ethanol several times, then filtered and dried. The dried sample was grounded, and then undergone heat treatment. After heating, the sample was grounded again. Zinc oxide powder and copper oxide powder were also fabricated using chemical precipitation method. X-Ray Diffraction measurements of the coupled CuO/ZnO powder showed the presence of CuO and ZnO in the fabricated sample. Furthermore, other peaks shown by XRD were also identified corresponding to copper, copper (II) oxide, copper sulfate and zinc sulfate. Results of the photocatalytic activity investigation show that the sample exhibited superior photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under visible light illumination compared to copper oxide powder and zinc oxide powder. This may be attributed to the lower energy gap at the copper oxide-zinc oxide interface, compared to zinc oxide, allowing visible light to trigger its photocatalytic activity.

Hierarchical Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@MoS{sub 2}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} magnetic nanocomposites: Enhanced and stable photocatalytic performance for water purification under visible light irradiation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Guo, Na [Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102 (China); Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039 (China); Li, Haiyan; Xu, Xingjian [Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102 (China); Yu, Hongwen, E-mail: yuhw@neigae.ac.cn [Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102 (China)

2016-12-15

Highlights: • The FM/A-6% possesses a large specific surface area: 76.56 m{sup 2}/g. • The FM/A-6% displays high photocatalytic stability. • The FM/A-6% can be collected easily from the water by magnetic field. - Abstract: Novel hierarchical Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@MoS{sub 2}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} magnetic nanophotocatalyst with remarkable photocatalytic capability were prepared by simply depositing the Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} onto the surface of crumpled Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@MoS{sub 2} nanosphere. The nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, BET, and UV–vis DRS. The outcome of the photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@MoS{sub 2}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} with 6 wt% content of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} (FM/A-6%) showed the highest photocatalytic activity upon the degradation Congo red (CR) and Rhodamine B (RhB) under both visible light and simulated sunlight irradiation. In addition, FM/A-6% possessed larger specific surface area (76.56 m{sup 2}/g) and excellent optical property. The possible Z-scheme charge carriers transfer mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic properties of the FM/A-6% was also discussed. The Z-scheme charge carriers transfer mechanism established between MoS{sub 2} and Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} facilitate the charge separation efficiency. Moreover, FM/A-6% can be separated and collected easily by external magnetic field and maintain high activity after five times photoreaction cycles. Given the remarkable photocatalytic performance and high stability of FM/A-6% nanocomposite, it is looking forward to exhibit great potential for applications in water purification.

In situ photodeposition of cobalt on CdS nanorod for promoting photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light irradiation

Science.gov (United States)

Chen, Wei; Wang, Yanhong; Liu, Mei; Gao, Li; Mao, Liqun; Fan, Zeyun; Shangguan, Wenfeng

2018-06-01

Non-noble metal Co were loaded on CdS for enhancing photocatalytic activity of water splitting by a simple and efficient in situ photodeposition method. The Co particles with diameter ca. 5 nm were photoreduced and then loaded on the surface of CdS. The loading of Co can not only effectively promote the separation of electrons and holes photoexcited by CdS, but reduce the overpotential of hydrogen evolution as well, thus enhancing photocatalytic activity of water splitting. The highest photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of Co/CdS reaches up to 1299 μmol h-1 under visible light irradiation(λ > 420 nm) when the amount of loading is 1.0 wt%, which is 17 times of that of pure CdS and achieves 80% of that of 0.5 wt%Pt/CdS. This work not only exhibits a pathway to obtain photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production, but provides a possibility for the utilization of low cost Co as a substitute for noble metals in photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Preparation and photocatalytic activity of chemically-bonded phosphate ceramics containing TiO2

Science.gov (United States)

Martins, Monize Aparecida; de Lima, Bruna de Oliveira; Ferreira, Leticia Patrício; Colonetti, Emerson; Feltrin, Jucilene; De Noni, Agenor

2017-05-01

Titanium dioxide was incorporated into chemically-bonded phosphate ceramic for use as photocatalytic inorganic coating. The coatings obtained were applied to unglazed ceramic tiles and cured at 350 °C. The surfaces were characterized by photocatalytic activity, determined in aqueous medium, based on the degradation of methylene blue dye. The effects of the percentage of TiO2 and the thickness of the layer on the photocatalytic efficiency were evaluated. The influence of the incorporation of TiO2 on the consolidation of the phosphate matrix coating was investigated using the wear resistance test. The crystalline phases of the coatings obtained were determined by XRD. The microstructure of the surfaces was analyzed by SEM. The thermal curing treatment did not cause a phase transition from anatase to rutile. An increase in the photocatalytic activity of the coating was observed with an increase in the TiO2 content. The dye degradation indices ranged from 14.9 to 44.0%. The photocatalytic efficiency was not correlated with the thickness of the coating layer deposited. The resistance to wear decreased with an increase in the TiO2 content. Comparison with a commercial photocatalytic ceramic coating indicated that there is a range of values for the TiO2 contents which offer potential for photocatalytic applications.

Hydrogenated TiO{sub 2} nanobelts as highly efficient photocatalytic organic dye degradation and hydrogen evolution photocatalyst

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Tian, Jian [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590 (China); State key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100 (China); Leng, Yanhua [State key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100 (China); Cui, Hongzhi, E-mail: cuihongzhi1965@163.com [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590 (China); Liu, Hong, E-mail: hongliu@sdu.edu.cn [State key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100 (China)

2015-12-15

Highlights: • A facile synthesis of hydrogenated TiO{sub 2} nanobelts is reported. • Utilizing UV and visible light in photocatalytic degradation and H{sub 2} production. • The improved photocatalytic property is owe to Ti{sup 3+} ions and oxygen vacancies. - Abstract: TiO{sub 2} nanobelts have gained increasing interest because of its outstanding properties and promising applications in a wide range of fields. Here we report the facile synthesis of hydrogenated TiO{sub 2} (H-TiO{sub 2}) nanobelts, which exhibit excellent UV and visible photocatalytic decomposing of methyl orange (MO) and water splitting for hydrogen production. The improved photocatalytic property can be attributed to the Ti{sup 3+} ions and oxygen vacancies in TiO{sub 2} nanobelts created by hydrogenation. Ti{sup 3+} ions and oxygen vacancies can enhance visible light absorption, promote charge carrier trapping, and hinder the photogenerated electron–hole recombination. This work offers a simple strategy for the fabrication of a wide solar spectrum of active photocatalysts, which possesses significant potential for more efficient photodegradation, photocatalytic water splitting, and enhanced solar cells using sunlight as light source.

Comparative Study on The Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Methanol over Cu-, Pd-, Co- and Au-Loaded TiO2

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Udani P.P.C.

2015-09-01

Full Text Available Photocatalytic hydrogen production from a methanol-water solution was investigated in a semi-continuous reactor over different metal-loaded TiO2 catalysts under UltraViolet (UV light irradiation. The catalysts were mainly prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method by varying the metal weight ratio in the range of 1-10 wt%. The effects of metal loading and H2 pre-treatment on the photocatalytic activity were investigated. In addition, the activity of the catalysts was also compared with a reference Au-TiO2 catalyst from the World Gold Council (WGC. The photocatalysts were characterized by using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD and N2 physisorption before and after the activity measurements. The photocatalytic activity decreased in the order of Pd > Au > Cu > Co in the comparative study of Cu-TiO2, Co-TiO2, Au-TiO2 and Pd-TiO2. Optimum hydrogen evolution was achieved with 5 wt% Pd-TiO2 and 5 wt% Cu-TiO2.

Pseudo and true visible light photocatalytic activity of nanotube titanic acid/graphene composites

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wang, Xiaodong, E-mail: donguser@hotmail.com; Liu, Xiaogang; Xue, Xiaoxiao; Pan, Hui; Zhang, Min; Li, Qiuye; Yu, Laigui; Yang, Jianjun; Zhang, Zhijun [Henan University, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Special Functional Materials (China)

2013-09-15

Nanotube titanic acid/graphene (NTA/Gr) composites were prepared by an easy hydrothermal treatment of graphene oxide (GO) and NTA in a mixed solvent of ethanol-water. As-prepared NTA/Gr composites and GO were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, diffuse-reflection spectrometry, thermal analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. Besides, the photocatalytic activities of as-prepared NTA/Gr composites were evaluated by monitoring the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation. It has been found that extending hydrothermal reaction time (24 h instead of 3 h) leads to great changes in the morphology and crystal structure of as-prepared composites. Namely, the orthorhombic NTA (ca. 10 nm in diameter) in the composite transformed to anatase TiO{sub 2} particle (ca. 20-30 nm in diameter) while the Gr sheets (with micrometers-long wrinkles) in it transformed to a few Gr fragments (ca. 50 nm in diameter). Correspondingly, the NTA/Gr composite transformed to titanium dioxide/graphene (TiO{sub 2}/Gr) composite. In the meantime, pure GO only has adsorption effect but it has no photocatalytic activity in the visible light region. Nevertheless, increasing Gr ratio results in enhanced visible light absorption capability and photocatalytic activity of NTA/Gr composites as well as the TiO{sub 2}/Gr composites. This demonstrates that the true visible light photocatalytic activity of NTA/Gr composites as well as the TiO{sub 2}/Gr composites for the degradation of MO is not as excellent as expected, and their high apparent activity is attributed to the strong adsorption of MO on the composites.

Pseudo and true visible light photocatalytic activity of nanotube titanic acid/graphene composites

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Xiaodong; Liu, Xiaogang; Xue, Xiaoxiao; Pan, Hui; Zhang, Min; Li, Qiuye; Yu, Laigui; Yang, Jianjun; Zhang, Zhijun

2013-09-01

Nanotube titanic acid/graphene (NTA/Gr) composites were prepared by an easy hydrothermal treatment of graphene oxide (GO) and NTA in a mixed solvent of ethanol-water. As-prepared NTA/Gr composites and GO were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, diffuse-reflection spectrometry, thermal analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. Besides, the photocatalytic activities of as-prepared NTA/Gr composites were evaluated by monitoring the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation. It has been found that extending hydrothermal reaction time (24 h instead of 3 h) leads to great changes in the morphology and crystal structure of as-prepared composites. Namely, the orthorhombic NTA (ca. 10 nm in diameter) in the composite transformed to anatase TiO2 particle (ca. 20-30 nm in diameter) while the Gr sheets (with micrometers-long wrinkles) in it transformed to a few Gr fragments (ca. 50 nm in diameter). Correspondingly, the NTA/Gr composite transformed to titanium dioxide/graphene (TiO2/Gr) composite. In the meantime, pure GO only has adsorption effect but it has no photocatalytic activity in the visible light region. Nevertheless, increasing Gr ratio results in enhanced visible light absorption capability and photocatalytic activity of NTA/Gr composites as well as the TiO2/Gr composites. This demonstrates that the true visible light photocatalytic activity of NTA/Gr composites as well as the TiO2/Gr composites for the degradation of MO is not as excellent as expected, and their high apparent activity is attributed to the strong adsorption of MO on the composites.

Shape-control of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles: enhancing photocatalytic activity under UV irradiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Montero-Muñoz, M; Ramos-Ibarra, J E; Huamaní-Coaquira, J A; Rodríguez-Páez, J E; Ramirez, A

2017-01-01

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures with different sizes and morphologies were synthesized using the Controlled Precipitation Method. It follows a standard process, but with different synthesis and washing solvents to modify the features related to the photocatalytic activity. The solid phase evolution during aging step was followed using Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and the solids obtained, after the washing process, were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Rietveld refinement indicates a Wurtzite phase (space group P63mc) as majority phase with lattice parameters a = 3.2530 Å and c = 5.2125 Å. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image shows a sponge-like morphology for the sample synthesized with ethylene glycol as solvent, acidified with nitric acid and washed with water. The sample synthesized and washed with water shows a needle-like morphology; and the sample synthesized in acetic acid and washed with water shows particles with undefined morphology. The optical properties of the as-prepared ZnO samples were investigated by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Finally, the photocatalytic activity of ZnO powders was studied from the initial rate of decomposition of H 2 O 2 in aqueous solution. The best results were obtained with samples synthesized and washed with water; the influence of all the solvents on the morphology of ZnO samples and the effect of the morphologies on the photocatalytic activity are discussed. (paper)

Charge Transfer Mechanism in Titanium-Doped Microporous Silica for Photocatalytic Water-Splitting Applications

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Wendi Sapp

2016-02-01

Full Text Available Solar energy conversion into chemical form is possible using artificial means. One example of a highly-efficient fuel is solar energy used to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. Efficient photocatalytic water-splitting remains an open challenge for researchers across the globe. Despite significant progress, several aspects of the reaction, including the charge transfer mechanism, are not fully clear. Density functional theory combined with density matrix equations of motion were used to identify and characterize the charge transfer mechanism involved in the dissociation of water. A simulated porous silica substrate, using periodic boundary conditions, with Ti4+ ions embedded on the inner pore wall was found to contain electron and hole trap states that could facilitate a chemical reaction. A trap state was located within the silica substrate that lengthened relaxation time, which may favor a chemical reaction. A chemical reaction would have to occur within the window of photoexcitation; therefore, the existence of a trapping state may encourage a chemical reaction. This provides evidence that the silica substrate plays an integral part in the electron/hole dynamics of the system, leading to the conclusion that both components (photoactive materials and support of heterogeneous catalytic systems are important in optimization of catalytic efficiency.

Photocatalytic Activity and Optical Properties of Blue Persistent Phosphors under UV and Solar Irradiation

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

C. R. García

2016-01-01

Full Text Available Blue phosphorescent strontium aluminosilicate powders were prepared by combustion synthesis route and a postannealing treatments at different temperatures. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that phosphors are composed of two main hexagonal phases: SrAl2O4 and Sr3Al32O51. The morphology of the phosphors changed from micrograins (1000°C to a mixture of bars and hexagons (1200°C and finally to only hexagons (1300°C as the annealing temperature is increased. Photoluminescence spectra showed a strong blue-green phosphorescent emission centered at λem=455 nm, which is associated with 4f65d1→4f6  (8S7/2 transition of the Eu2+. The sample annealed at 1200°C presents the highest luminance value (40 Cd/m2 with CIE coordinates (0.1589, 0.1972. Also, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB under UV light (at 365 nm was monitored. Samples annealed at 1000°C and 1300°C presented the highest percentage of degradation (32% and 38.5%, resp. after 360 min. In the case of photocatalytic activity under solar irradiation, the samples annealed at 1000°C, 1150°C, and 1200°C produced total degradation of MB after only 300 min. Hence, the results obtained with solar photocatalysis suggest that our powders could be useful for water cleaning in water treatment plants.

Ultrasonic synthesis of fern-like ZnO nanoleaves and their enhanced photocatalytic activity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ma, Qing Lan; Xiong, Rui; Zhai, Bao-gai; Huang, Yuan Ming

2015-01-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Fern-like ZnO nanoleaves were synthesized by ultrasonicating Zn microcrystals in water. • A fern-like ZnO nanoleaf is a self-assembly of ZnO nanoplates along one ZnO nanorod. • Fern-like ZnO nanoleaves exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity than ZnO nanocrystals. • The branched hierarchical structures are responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity. - Abstract: Two-dimensional fern-like ZnO nanoleaves were synthesized by ultrasonicating zinc microcrystals in water. The morphology, crystal structure, optical property and photocatalytic activity of the fern-like ZnO nanoleaves were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, respectively. It is found that one fern-like ZnO nanoleaf is composed of one ZnO nanorod as the central trunk and a number of ZnO nanoplates as the side branches in opposite pairs along the central ZnO nanorod. The central ZnO nanorod in the fern-like nanoleaves is about 1 μm long while the side-branching ZnO nanoplates are about 100 nm long and 20 nm wide. Further analysis has revealed that ZnO nanocrystals are the building blocks of the central ZnO nanorod and the side-branching ZnO nanoplates. Under identical conditions, fern-like ZnO nanoleaves exhibit higher photocatalytic activity in photodegrading methyl orange in aqueous solution than spherical ZnO nanocrystals. The first-order photocatalytic rate constant of the fern-like ZnO nanoleaves is about four times as large as that of the ZnO nanoparticles. The branched architecture of the hierarchical nanoleaves is suggested be responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the fern-like ZnO nanoleaves

Effect of post-treatment on photocatalytic oxidation activity of (111 oriented NaNbO3 film

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Feng Zhang

2015-10-01

Full Text Available We investigate the impact of post-treatment on photocatalytic oxidation activity of (111 oriented NaNbO3 film prepared by pulse laser deposition. Some impurities such as Na2Nb4O11 and bigger particles appear in the treated samples. The activity of rhodamine B degradation with N2 purge increases with the amount of ⋅OH, the sample treated under H2/Ar(7% being the highest activity, followed by under air and untreated one; the opposite trend is observed when the system was without N2 purge.

A short review on photocatalytic degradation of formaldehyde

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Tasbihi, M.; Bendyna, J.K.; Notten, P.H.L.; Hintzen, H.T.J.M.

2015-01-01

Nowadays, it is a great challenge to eliminate toxic and harmful organic pollutants from air and water. This paper reviews the role of TiO2 as a photocatalyst, light source and photoreactor in the particular case of removal of formaldehyde using the photocatalytic reaction by titanium dioxide (TiO2

Composite nanofibers/water photosplitting and photocatalytic degradation of dairy effluent

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Kanjwal, Muzafar A.; Leung, Wallace W.F.; Chronakis, Ioannis S.

2018-01-01

Photocatalytic removal of Dairy effluent (DE) was studied by using TiO2-GeO2 and TiO2-CdO nanofibers (NFs), produced by electrospinning method. These NFs were characterized by SEM, TEM and XRD studies. The TiO2-GeO2 and TiO2-CdO NFs were smooth and continuous, with an average diameter of about 27...

High efficient multifunctional Ag_3PO_4 loaded hydroxyapatite nanowires for water treatment

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Li, Yaling; Zhou, Hangyu; Zhu, Genxing; Shao, Changyu; Pan, Haihua; Xu, Xurong; Tang, Ruikang

2015-01-01

Highlights: • The multifunctional Ag_3PO_4 loaded hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanowires were synthesized via a facile in-situ precipitation method. • By optimizing the initial concentration of AgNO_3, the well-distributed Ag_3PO_4/HAP composites could be achieved. • The Ag_3PO_4/HAP composites showed excellent photocatalytic performance for the decomposition of dyes under visible light irradiation. • The maximum absorption capacity of the Ag_3PO_4/HAP composites for Pb(II) was 250 mg/g, approximately three times as that of pure HAP. • The Ag_3PO_4/HAP composites also exhibited excellent antibacterial activities even at relative low concentrations. - Abstract: Organic, inorganic, and biological pollutants are typical water contaminants and they seriously affect water quality. In this study, we suggested that a novel multifunctional Ag_3PO_4 loaded hydroxyapatite (HAP) material can remove the typical pollutants from water. The Ag_3PO_4/HAP composites were synthesized facilely via in-situ precipitation of Ag_3PO_4 on the pre-existing HAP nanowires. By optimizing the composition of Ag_3PO_4 and HAP, the material could achieve an optimal photocatalytic activity to decompose rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiations with enhanced pH stability. Besides, the adsorption of Pb(II) on the Ag_3PO_4/HAP reached a maximum capacity of 250 mg/g and this value was approximately three times as that of pure HAP. Furthermore, the composite material exhibited excellent antibacterial activities towards gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) and gram-positive bacterium (Stphylococcus aureus). The results highlighted the cooperative effect between Ag_3PO_4 and hydroxyapatite (HAP). The simultaneous removals of dyes, toxic metal ions, and bacteria with a high efficiency followed an easy approach for the purification of contaminated water via the rationally designed material, in which the Ag_3PO_4/HAP composite might be developed

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions of organophosphorous compounds

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kozlova, Ekaterina A.; Vorontsov, Alexander V. [Boreskov Institute of Catalysis and Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090 (Russian Federation)

2010-07-15

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water solutions of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), trimethyl phosphate (TMP), triethyl phosphate (TEP), and radiation protective amine WR 2721, that imitate nerve chemical warfare agents was studied for the first time. Platinized titianium dioxide Degussa P25 was used as catalyst. No significant hydrogen evolution was detected without organic electron donors - sacrificial agents. The hydrogen evolution rate was shown to grow slowly with the rise of initial DMMP concentration. The initial rate vs. DMMP concentration curve is well fitted by Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) equation. The DMMP adsorption constant obtained from the L-H equation fit is markedly higher than that obtained from the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Reactions of full destruction into inorganic products of the four organophosphorous compounds were conducted. Amounts of evolved hydrogen and carbon dioxide were completely consistent with stoichiometry of proposed reaction. There were no initial compounds and only trace of total organic carbon after the end of the reaction. Complete water purification and production of an amount of valuable hydrogen was achieved. Intermediates of DMMP oxygen-free destruction were identified by means of GC/MS. They were the same as those in the case of DMMP photocatalytic oxidation. A mechanism of hydrogen evolution that explains smaller rates of mineralization compared to photocatalytic oxidation by oxygen was proposed. (author)

Photocatalytic Oxidation of Azo Dyes and Oxalic Acid in Batch Reactors and CSTR: Introduction of Photon Absorption by Dyes to Kinetic Models

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

I. Grčić

2018-04-01

Full Text Available The possibilities of treating industrial effluents and water purification by advanced oxidation processes have been extensively studied; photocatalysis has emerged as a feasible alternative solution. In order to apply the photocatalytic treatment on a larger scale, relevant modeling approaches are necessary. The scope of this work was to investigate the applicability of recently published kinetic models in different reactor systems (batch and CSTR under UVA or UVC irradiation and in combination with two types of TiO2 catalyst, AEROXIDE® P25 and PC-500 for degradation of azo dyes (C.I. Reactive Violet 2, and C.I. Mordant Yellow 10, oxalic acid and their mixtures. The influences of reactor geometry and irradiation intensities on pollutant oxidation efficiency were examined. The effect of photon absorption by dyes in water matrix was thoroughly studied. Relevant kinetic models were introduced to the mass balance for particular reactor system. Resulting models were sufficient for description of pollutant degradation in batch reactors and CSTR. Experimental results showed 1.15 times higher mineralization extents achieved after 7 cycles in CSTR than in batch photoreactor of similar geometry within the equivalent time-span. The application of CSTR in-series could simplify the photocatalytic water treatment on a larger scale.

New porous titanium–niobium oxide for photocatalytic degradation of bromocresol green dye in aqueous solution

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chaleshtori, Maryam Zarei, E-mail: mzarei@utep.edu [Materials Research and Technology Institute (MRTI), University of Texas at El Paso, 500W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968 (United States); Hosseini, Mahsa; Edalatpour, Roya [Materials Research and Technology Institute (MRTI), University of Texas at El Paso, 500W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968 (United States); Masud, S.M. Sarif [Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, 500W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968 (United States); Chianelli, Russell R., E-mail: chianell@utep.edu [Materials Research and Technology Institute (MRTI), University of Texas at El Paso, 500W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968 (United States)

2013-10-15

Graphical abstract: The photocatalytic activity of different porous titanium–niobium oxides was evaluated toward degradation of bromocresol green (BG) under UV light. A better catalytic activity was observed for all samples at lower pH. Catalysts have a stronger ability for degradation of BG in acid media than in alkaline media. - Highlights: • Different highly structured titanium–niobium oxides have been prepared using improved methods of synthesis. • Photo-degradation of bromocresol green dye (BG) with nanostructure titanium–niobium oxide catalysts was carried out under UV light. • The photo-catalytic activity of all catalysts was higher in lower pH. • Titanium–niobium oxide catalysts are considerably stable and reusable. - Abstract: In this study, high surface area semiconductors, non porous and porous titanium–niobium oxides derived from KTiNbO{sub 5} were synthesized, characterized and developed for their utility as photocatalysts for decontamination with sunlight. These materials were then used in the photocatalytic degradation of bromocresol green dye (BG) in aqueous solution using UV light and their catalytic activities were evaluated at various pHs. For all catalysts, the photocatalytic degradation of BG was most efficient in acidic solutions. Results show that the new porous oxides have large porous and high surface areas and high catalytic activity. A topotactic dehydration treatment greatly improves catalyst performance at various pHs. Stability and long term activity of porous materials (topo and non-topo) in photocatalysis reactions was also tested. These results suggest that the new materials can be used to efficiently purify contaminated water.

Urban wastewater treatment by using Ag/ZnO and Pt/TiO2 photocatalysts.

Science.gov (United States)

Murcia Mesa, Julie J; Arias Bolivar, Lizeth G; Sarmiento, Hugo Alfonso Rojas; Martínez, Elsa Giovanna Ávila; Páez, César Jaramillo; Lara, Mayra Anabel; Santos, José Antonio Navío; Del Carmen Hidalgo López, María

2018-03-02

In this study, the treatment of wastewater coming from a river highly polluted with domestic and industrial effluents was evaluated. For this purpose, series of photocatalysts obtained by ZnO and TiO 2 modification were evaluated. The effect of metal addition and Ti precursor (in the case of the titania series) over the physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of the materials obtained was also analyzed. The evaluation of the photocatalytic activity showed that semiconductor modification and precursor used in the materials synthesis are important factors influencing the physicochemical and therefore the photocatalytic properties of the materials obtained. The water samples analyzed in the present work were taken from a highly polluted river, and it was found that the effectiveness of the photocatalytic treatment increases when the reaction time increases and for both, wastewater samples and isolated Escherichia coli strain follow the next order Pt/TiO 2 < ZnO. It was also observed that biochemical and chemical demand oxygen and turbidity significantly decrease after treatment, thus indicating that photocatalysis is a non-selective technology, which can lead to recover wastewater containing different pollutants.

A simple UV-ozone surface treatment to enhance photocatalytic performance of TiO 2 loaded polymer nanofiber membranes

KAUST Repository

Dilpazir, S.

2016-01-29

Homogeneously dispersed titanium dioxide loaded polyacrylonitrile nanofiber membranes with increased active mass loading, Ti3+ surface defects and hydrophilicity were fabricated by combining electrospinning and UV-ozone surface treatment. The photocatalytic activity improved by a factor of ∼2 and the kinetics of photodegradation switched from pseudo-first order to pseudo-second order with increasing TiO2 content with a maximum rate constant of 20.7 h-1. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016.

Preparation of ErMnO3 by Sol-gel Method and its Photocatalytic Activity for Removal of Methyl Orange from Water

Science.gov (United States)

Xie, X. Y.; Yang, J. N.; Yu, L. L.; Min, J. Y.; Sun, D. D.; Tang, P. S.; Chen, H. F.

2018-05-01

The single phase perovskite ErMnO3 was synthesized using Er(NO3)3, manganese acetate, citric acid and urea by a facile sol-gel method. The gel of ErMnO3 precursor was kept for 36 hours in 100 °C oven to get the xerogel. Then, the xerogel was calcined at 800 °C for 12 hours in muffle furnace to prepare single phase ErMnO3. The prepared sample was characterized by thermogravimetry differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Under ultraviolet light, the photocatalytic activity of ErMnO3 was studied with methyl orange of 20 mg/L as the simulated sewage. The results show that the ErMnO3 sample particle size distribution is relatively uniform, the average grain size is mainly around 100 nm. The photocatalytic experiment demonstrates that ErMnO3 is highly photocatalytic activity for removal of methyl orange from water. When methyl orange of 20 mg/L is degraded for 120 min in the presence of ErMnO3, the degradation rate of methyl orange can reach about 95%. The degradation of methyl orange accords with first order kinetic model in presence ErMnO3 sample, and the apparent rate constant is 0.022 min-1.

An integrated anaerobic digestion and UV photocatalytic treatment of distillery wastewater

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Apollo, Seth [Department of Chemical Engineering, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1900 (South Africa); Onyango, Maurice S. [Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001 (South Africa); Ochieng, Aoyi, E-mail: ochienga@vut.ac.za [Department of Chemical Engineering, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1900 (South Africa)

2013-10-15

Highlights: • Integrated AD and photodegradation is suitable for treatment of distillery effluent. • AD process is effective in COD and BOD reduction but not colour removal. • UV photodegradation is efficient in colour and DON removal. • UV photodegradation as a post treatment technique achieved high efficiencies. • UV pre-treatment inhibited biogas production in the succeeding anaerobic process. -- Abstract: Anaerobic up-flow fixed bed reactor and annular photocatalytic reactor were used to study the efficiency of integrated anaerobic digestion (AD) and ultraviolet (UV) photodegradation of real distillery effluent and raw molasses wastewater (MWW). It was found that UV photodegradation as a stand-alone technique achieved colour removal of 54% and 69% for the distillery and MWW, respectively, with a COD reduction of <20% and a negligible BOD reduction. On the other hand, AD as a single treatment technique was found to be effective in COD and BOD reduction with efficiencies of above 75% and 85%, respectively, for both wastewater samples. However, the AD achieved low colour removal efficiency, with an increase in colour intensity of 13% recorded when treating MWW while a colour removal of 51% was achieved for the distillery effluent. The application of UV photodegradation as a pre-treatment method to the AD process reduced the COD removal and biogas production efficiency. However, an integration in which UV photodegradation was employed as a post-treatment to the AD process achieved high COD removal of above 85% for both wastewater samples, and colour removal of 88% for the distillery effluent. Thus, photodegradation can be employed as a post-treatment technique to an AD system treating distillery effluent for complete removal of the biorecalcitrant and colour imparting compounds.

An integrated anaerobic digestion and UV photocatalytic treatment of distillery wastewater

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Apollo, Seth; Onyango, Maurice S.; Ochieng, Aoyi

2013-01-01

Highlights: • Integrated AD and photodegradation is suitable for treatment of distillery effluent. • AD process is effective in COD and BOD reduction but not colour removal. • UV photodegradation is efficient in colour and DON removal. • UV photodegradation as a post treatment technique achieved high efficiencies. • UV pre-treatment inhibited biogas production in the succeeding anaerobic process. -- Abstract: Anaerobic up-flow fixed bed reactor and annular photocatalytic reactor were used to study the efficiency of integrated anaerobic digestion (AD) and ultraviolet (UV) photodegradation of real distillery effluent and raw molasses wastewater (MWW). It was found that UV photodegradation as a stand-alone technique achieved colour removal of 54% and 69% for the distillery and MWW, respectively, with a COD reduction of <20% and a negligible BOD reduction. On the other hand, AD as a single treatment technique was found to be effective in COD and BOD reduction with efficiencies of above 75% and 85%, respectively, for both wastewater samples. However, the AD achieved low colour removal efficiency, with an increase in colour intensity of 13% recorded when treating MWW while a colour removal of 51% was achieved for the distillery effluent. The application of UV photodegradation as a pre-treatment method to the AD process reduced the COD removal and biogas production efficiency. However, an integration in which UV photodegradation was employed as a post-treatment to the AD process achieved high COD removal of above 85% for both wastewater samples, and colour removal of 88% for the distillery effluent. Thus, photodegradation can be employed as a post-treatment technique to an AD system treating distillery effluent for complete removal of the biorecalcitrant and colour imparting compounds

Photocatalytic degradation of an organophosphorus pesticide from agricultural waste by immobilized TiO2 under solar radiation

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Marcia Regina Assalin

2016-11-01

Full Text Available This paper describes solar heterogeneous photocatalysis using immobilized TiO2 applied in the treatment of agricultural waste resulting from the application of commercial formulations of methyl parathion. The disappearance of the insecticide, as well as the formation of its metabolite, was monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS, while mineralization efficiency was monitored by measurements of total organic carbon (TOC. Toxicity studies were performed using the microcrustacean Artemia salina. The TOC removal efficiency by photocatalytic process was 48.5%. After 45 minutes of treatment, the removal efficiency of methyl parathion was 90%, being completely mineralized at the end of treatment. The formation and removal of the metabolite methyl paraoxon was observed during the photocatalytic process. The photocatalytic treatment resulted in increased microcrustacean mobility, indicating a reduction of acute toxicity.

Visible-light CO{sub 2} photocatalytic reduction performance of ball-flower-like Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} synthesized without organic precursor: Effect of post-calcination and water vapor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sun, Zhuxing; Yang, Zhenmei; Liu, Hongfeng [Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058 (China); Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler and Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou 311202 (China); Wang, Haiqiang, E-mail: wanghaiqiang2008@126.com [Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058 (China); Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler and Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou 311202 (China); Wu, Zhongbiao, E-mail: zbwu@zju.edu.cn [Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058 (China); Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of Industrial Boiler and Furnace Flue Gas Pollution Control, Hangzhou 311202 (China)

2014-10-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Photocatalytic CO{sub 2} reduction on non-organic synthesized PB-Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} was investigated. • CO was detected as the major product. • Increased amount of CO was yielded in the condition with little water vapor. • Photocatalytic performance was enhanced with Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} after 550 °C post-annealing. • Renewing the catalysts used in CO{sub 2} photoreduction by water washing was achieved. - Abstract: Nanoplates-composed ball-flower-like Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} (PB-Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}) was synthesized by a hydrothermal method without any organic precursor and its performance in photocatalytic reduction of CO{sub 2} was investigated in a continuous-flow reaction system under visible light irradiation (420 nm < λ < 620 nm). CO was detected as the main product of this photocatalytic process and H{sub 2}O was found to suppress the conversion of CO{sub 2} to CO due to its competitive absorption with CO{sub 2} on the medium strength basic sites of Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}. PB-Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} annealed at 550 °C showed superior CO yield in the condition with little water vapor. It might be attributed to the enhanced crystallinity, significantly decreased recombination rate of photo-generated electrons and holes and more stable basic sites for strengthened CO{sub 2} adsorption, according to characterization results by XRD, SEM, UV–vis SRS, PL and CO{sub 2}-TPD. However, comparing with PB-Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}, the negative effect of H{sub 2}O was even more prominent on the annealed sample because of the reduced surface area. Yield decrease was observed during the irradiation time due to the adsorption of intermediates generated but fortunately washing with deionized water was found to be an effective way to renew the catalyst.

Performance of Hybrid Photocatalytic-Ceramic Membrane System for the Treatment of Secondary Effluent.

Science.gov (United States)

Song, Lili; Zhu, Bo; Gray, Stephen; Duke, Mikel; Muthukumaran, Shobha

2017-03-28

Evaluation of an advanced wastewater treatment system that combines photocatalysis with ceramic membrane filtration for the treatment of secondary effluent was undertaken. The results showed that, after photocatalysis and ceramic membrane filtration, the removal of dissolved organic carbon and UV 254 was 60% and 54%, respectively, at a concentration of 4 g/L of TiO₂. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) present in the secondary effluent was characterised with a liquid chromatography-organic carbon detector (LC-OCD) technique. The results showed low removal of humics, building blocks, the other oxidation by-products and no removal of biopolymers after TiO₂/UV photocatalytic treatment. This suggested that the radical non-selective oxidation mechanisms of TiO₂/UV process resulted in secondary effluent in which all of the DOM fractions were present. However, the hybrid system was effective for removing biopolymers with the exception of low molecular weight (LMW) compounds acids, which accumulated from the beginning of the reaction. In addition, monitoring of the DOM fractions with LC-OCD analysis demonstrated that the reduction of the effluent aromaticity was not firmly correlated with the removal of humic substances for the combined processes.

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water under visible light using core/shell nano-catalysts.

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, X; Shih, K; Li, X Y

2010-01-01

A microemulsion technique was employed to synthesize nano-sized photocatalysts with a core (CdS)/shell (ZnS) structure. The primary particles of the photocatalysts were around 10 nm, and the mean size of the catalyst clusters in water was about 100 nm. The band gaps of the catalysts ranged from 2.25 to 2.46 eV. The experiments of photocatalytic H(2) generation showed that the catalysts (CdS)(x)/(ZnS)(1-x) with x ranging from 0.1 to 1 were able to produce hydrogen from water photolysis under visible light. The catalyst with x=0.9 had the highest rate of hydrogen production. The catalyst loading density also influenced the photo-hydrogen production rate, and the best catalyst concentration in water was 1 g L(-1). The stability of the nano-catalysts in terms of size, morphology and activity was satisfactory during an extended test period for a specific hydrogen production rate of 2.38 mmol g(-1) L(-1) h(-1) and a quantum yield of 16.1% under visible light (165 W Xe lamp, lambda>420 nm). The results demonstrate that the (CdS)/(ZnS) core/shell nano-particles are a novel photo-catalyst for renewable hydrogen generation from water under visible light. This is attributable to the large band-gap ZnS shell that separates the electron/hole pairs generated by the CdS core and hence reduces their recombinations.

Nitrogen-Doped Graphene for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation.

Science.gov (United States)

Chang, Dong Wook; Baek, Jong-Beom

2016-04-20

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H2 ) generation in a water splitting process has recently attracted tremendous interest because it allows the direct conversion of clean and unlimited solar energy into the ideal energy resource of H2 . For efficient photocatalytic H2 generation, the role of the photocatalyst is critical. With increasing demand for more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective photocatalysts, various types of semiconductor photocatalysts have been intensively developed. In particular, on the basis of its superior catalytic and tunable electronic properties, nitrogen-doped graphene is a potential candidate for a high-performance photocatalyst. Nitrogen-doped graphene also offers additional advantages originating from its unique two-dimensional sp(2) -hybridized carbon network including a large specific surface area and exceptional charge transport properties. It has been reported that nitrogen-doped graphene can play diverse but positive functions including photo-induced charge acceptor/meditator, light absorber from UV to visible light, n-type semiconductor, and giant molecular photocatalyst. Herein, we summarize the recent progress and general aspects of nitrogen-doped graphene as a photocatalyst for photocatalytic H2 generation. In addition, challenges and future perspectives in this field are also discussed. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Photocatalytic Performance of Carbon Monolith/TiO2 Composite

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Marina Maletić

2015-01-01

Full Text Available The new and simple approach for deposition of catalytically active TiO2 coating on carbon monolith (CM carrier was presented. CM photocatalysts were impregnated with TiO2 using titanium solution and thermal treatment, and their photocatalytic activity was investigated in the process of methylene blue (MB photodegradation. For the purpose of comparison, CM composite photocatalysts were prepared by dip-coating method, which implies binder usage. The presence of TiO2 on CM carrier was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The sorption characteristics of CM and the role of adsorption in the overall process of MB removal were evaluated through amount of surface oxygen groups obtained by temperature-programmed desorption and specific surface area determined by BET method. CM has shown good adsorption properties toward MB due to high amount of surface oxygen groups and relatively high specific surface area. It was concluded that photocatalytic activity increases with CM disc thickness due to increase of MB adsorption and amount of deposited TiO2. Good photocatalytic activity achieved for samples obtained by thermal treatment is the result of better accessibility of MB solution to the TiO2 particles induced by binder absence.

Characterization, non-isothermal decomposition kinetics and photocatalytic water splitting of green chemically synthesized polyoxoanions of molybdenum containing phosphorus as hetero atom

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

D’Cruz, Bessy; Samuel, Jadu; George, Leena

2014-01-01

Highlights: • CPM nanorods were synthesized by applying the principles of green chemistry. • The isoconversional method was used to analyze the effective activation energy. • The appropriate reaction models of the two decomposition stages were determined. • Photocatalytic water splitting was investigated in the presence of platinum co-catalyst. - Abstract: In here, the green synthesis and thermal characterization of a novel polyoxoanions of molybdenum containing phosphorus as hetero atom are reported. The composition and morphology of the nanorods were established by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopic (ICP-AES) techniques. Thermal properties of the nanoparticles were investigated by non-isothermal analysis under nitrogen atmosphere. The values activation energy of each stage of thermal decomposition for all heating rates was calculated by Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunnose (KAS) methods. Invariant kinetic parameter (IKP) method and master plot method were also used to evaluate the kinetic parameters and mechanism for the thermal decomposition of cetylpyridinium phosphomolybdate (CPM). Photocatalytic water oxidation mechanism using CPM catalyst in the presence of platinum (Pt) co-catalyst enhances the H 2 evolution and was found to be 1.514 mmol/g/h

Characterization, non-isothermal decomposition kinetics and photocatalytic water splitting of green chemically synthesized polyoxoanions of molybdenum containing phosphorus as hetero atom

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

D’Cruz, Bessy [Department of Chemistry, Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram 695015 (India); Samuel, Jadu, E-mail: jadu_samuel@yahoo.co.in [Department of Chemistry, Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram 695015 (India); George, Leena [Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry Division, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008 (India)

2014-11-20

Highlights: • CPM nanorods were synthesized by applying the principles of green chemistry. • The isoconversional method was used to analyze the effective activation energy. • The appropriate reaction models of the two decomposition stages were determined. • Photocatalytic water splitting was investigated in the presence of platinum co-catalyst. - Abstract: In here, the green synthesis and thermal characterization of a novel polyoxoanions of molybdenum containing phosphorus as hetero atom are reported. The composition and morphology of the nanorods were established by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopic (ICP-AES) techniques. Thermal properties of the nanoparticles were investigated by non-isothermal analysis under nitrogen atmosphere. The values activation energy of each stage of thermal decomposition for all heating rates was calculated by Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunnose (KAS) methods. Invariant kinetic parameter (IKP) method and master plot method were also used to evaluate the kinetic parameters and mechanism for the thermal decomposition of cetylpyridinium phosphomolybdate (CPM). Photocatalytic water oxidation mechanism using CPM catalyst in the presence of platinum (Pt) co-catalyst enhances the H{sub 2} evolution and was found to be 1.514 mmol/g/h.

Fluorescence quenching and photocatalytic degradation of textile dyeing waste water by silver nanoparticles

Science.gov (United States)

Kavitha, S. R.; Umadevi, M.; Janani, S. R.; Balakrishnan, T.; Ramanibai, R.

2014-06-01

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) of different sizes have been prepared by chemical reduction method and characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Fluorescence spectral analysis showed that the quenching of fluorescence of textile dyeing waste water (TDW) has been found to decrease with decrease in the size of the Ag NPs. Experimental results show that the silver nanoparticles can quench the fluorescence emission of adsorbed TDW effectively. The fluorescence interaction between Ag NPs (acceptor) and TDW (donor) confirms the Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) mechanism. Long range dipole-dipole interaction between the excited donor and ground state acceptor molecules is the dominant mechanism responsible for the energy transfer. Furthermore, photocatalytic degradation of TDW was measured spectrophotometrically by using silver as nanocatalyst under UV light illumination. The kinetic study revealed that synthesized Ag NPs was found to be effective in degrading TDW.

Versatile Photocatalytic Systems for H2 Generation in Water Based on an Efficient DuBois-Type Nickel Catalyst

Science.gov (United States)

2013-01-01

The generation of renewable H2 through an efficient photochemical route requires photoinduced electron transfer (ET) from a light harvester to an efficient electrocatalyst in water. Here, we report on a molecular H2 evolution catalyst (NiP) with a DuBois-type [Ni(P2R′N2R″)2]2+ core (P2R′N2R″ = bis(1,5-R′-diphospha-3,7-R″-diazacyclooctane), which contains an outer coordination sphere with phosphonic acid groups. The latter functionality allows for good solubility in water and immobilization on metal oxide semiconductors. Electrochemical studies confirm that NiP is a highly active electrocatalyst in aqueous electrolyte solution (overpotential of approximately 200 mV at pH 4.5 with a Faradaic yield of 85 ± 4%). Photocatalytic experiments and investigations on the ET kinetics were carried out in combination with a phosphonated Ru(II) tris(bipyridine) dye (RuP) in homogeneous and heterogeneous environments. Time-resolved luminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy studies confirmed that directed ET from RuP to NiP occurs efficiently in all systems on the nano- to microsecond time scale, through three distinct routes: reductive quenching of RuP in solution or on the surface of ZrO2 (“on particle” system) or oxidative quenching of RuP when the compounds were immobilized on TiO2 (“through particle” system). Our studies show that NiP can be used in a purely aqueous solution and on a semiconductor surface with a high degree of versatility. A high TOF of 460 ± 60 h–1 with a TON of 723 ± 171 for photocatalytic H2 generation with a molecular Ni catalyst in water and a photon-to-H2 quantum yield of approximately 10% were achieved for the homogeneous system. PMID:24320740

Preparation and characterization of nanostructured MWCNT-TiO2 composite materials for photocatalytic water treatment applications

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang Wendong; Serp, Philippe; Kalck, Philippe; Silva, Claudia Gomes; Faria, Joaquim Luis

2008-01-01

Nanoscale composite materials containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and titania were prepared by using a modified sol-gel method. The composites were comprehensively characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The analysis revealed the presence of titania crystallites of about 7.5 nm aggregated together with MWCNT in particles of 15-20 nm of diameter. The photoactivity of the prepared materials, under UV or visible irradiation, was tested using the conversion of phenol from model aqueous solutions as probe reaction. A synergy effect on the photocatalytic activities observed for the composite catalysts was discussed in terms of a strong interphase interaction between carbon and TiO 2 phases by comparing the different roles of MWCNT in the composite materials

Photocatalytic H 2 production from water splitting under visible light irradiation using Eosin Y-sensitized mesoporous-assembled Pt/TiO 2 nanocrystal photocatalyst

Science.gov (United States)

Sreethawong, Thammanoon; Junbua, Chompoonuch; Chavadej, Sumaeth

Sensitized photocatalytic production of hydrogen from water splitting is investigated under visible light irradiation over mesoporous-assembled titanium dioxide (TiO 2) nanocrystal photocatalysts, without and with Pt loading. The photocatalysts are synthesized by a sol-gel process with the aid of a structure-directing surfactant and are characterized by N 2 adsorption-desorption analysis, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The dependence of hydrogen production on the type of TiO 2 photocatalyst (synthesized mesoporous-assembled and commercial non-mesoporous-assembled TiO 2 without and with Pt loading), the calcination temperature of the synthesized photocatalyst, the sensitizer (Eosin Y) concentration, the electron donor (diethanolamine) concentration, the photocatalyst dosage and the initial solution pH is systematically studied. The results show that in the presence of the Eosin Y sensitizer, the Pt-loaded mesoporous-assembled TiO 2 synthesized by a single-step sol-gel process and calcined at 500 °C exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production from a 30 vol.% diethanolamine aqueous solution with dissolved 2 mM Eosin Y. Moreover, the optimum photocatalyst dosage and initial solution pH for the maximum photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production are 3.33 g dm -3 and 11.5, respectively.

Favorable recycling photocatalyst TiO2/CFA: Effects of loading percent of TiO2 on the structural property and photocatalytic activity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shi Jianwen; Chen Shaohua; Ye Zhilong; Wang Shumei; Wu Peng

2010-01-01

A series of photocatalysts TiO 2 /CFA were prepared using coal fly ash (CFA), waste discharged from coal-fired power plant, as substrate, and then these photocatalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis, nitrogen adsorption test and ultraviolet-visible absorption analysis. The effects of loading percent of TiO 2 on the photocatalytic activity and re-use property of TiO 2 /CFA were evaluated by the photocatalytic decoloration and mineralization of methyl orange solution. The results show that the pore volume and the specific surface area of the TiO 2 /CFA both increased with the increase in the loading percent of TiO 2 , which improved the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 /CFA. However, when the loading percent of TiO 2 was too high (up to 54.51%), superfluous TiO 2 was easy to break away from CFA in the course of water treatment, which was disadvantaged to the recycling property of TiO 2 /CFA. In this study, the optimal loading percent of TiO 2 was 49.97%, and the efficiencies of photocatalytic decoloration and mineralization could be maintained above 99% and 90%, respectively, when the photocatalyst was used repeatedly, without any decline, even at the sixth cycle.

Black TiO2 synthesized via magnesiothermic reduction for enhanced photocatalytic activity

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Xiangdong; Fu, Rong; Yin, Qianqian; Wu, Han; Guo, Xiaoling; Xu, Ruohan; Zhong, Qianyun

2018-04-01

Utilizing solar energy for hydrogen evolution is a great challenge for its insufficient visible-light power conversion. In this paper, we report a facile magnesiothermic reduction of commercial TiO2 nanoparticles under Ar atmosphere and at 550 °C followed by acid treatment to synthesize reduced black TiO2 powders, which possesses a unique crystalline core-amorphous shell structure composed of disordered surface and oxygen vacancies and shows significantly improved optical absorption in the visible region. The unique core-shell structure and high absorption enable the reduced black TiO2 powders to exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity, including splitting of water in the presence of Pt as a cocatalyst and degradation of methyl blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. Photocatalytic evaluations indicate that the oxygen vacancies play key roles in the catalytic process. The maximum hydrogen production rates are 16.1 and 163 μmol h-1 g-1 under the full solar wavelength range of light and visible light, respectively. This facile and versatile method could be potentially used for large scale production of colored TiO2 with remarkable enhancement in the visible light absorption and solar-driven hydrogen production.

Synthesis of hierarchical anatase TiO 2 nanostructures with tunable morphology and enhanced photocatalytic activity

KAUST Repository

Rahal, Raed; Wankhade, Atul V.; Cha, Dong Kyu; Fihri, Aziz; Ould-Chikh, Samy; Patil, Umesh; Polshettiwar, Vivek

2012-01-01

A facile one-pot method to prepare three-dimensional hierarchical nanostructures of titania with good control over their morphologies without the use of hydrofluoric acid is developed. The reaction is performed under microwave irradiation conditions in pure water, and enables enhanced photocatalytic activity. This study indicates that photocatalytic activity depends not only on the surface area but also on the morphology of the titania. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Guidelines to Develop Efficient Photocatalysts for Water Splitting

KAUST Repository

Garcia Esparza, Angel T.

2016-01-01

Photocatalytic overall water splitting is the only viable solar-to-fuel conversion technology. The research discloses an investigation process wherein by dissecting the photocatalytic water splitting device, electrocatalysts, and semiconductor

Chemically stable and reusable nano zero-valent iron/graphite-like carbon nitride nanohybrid for efficient photocatalytic treatment of Cr(VI) and rhodamine B under visible light

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Liang, Zhiyu; Wen, Qingjuan; Wang, Xiu; Zhang, Fuwei [Key Laboratory of Eco-materials Advanced Technology (Fuzhou University), Fujian Province University (China); College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, New Campus, Minhou, Fujian Province 350108 (China); Yu, Yan, E-mail: yuyan@fzu.edu.cn [Key Laboratory of Eco-materials Advanced Technology (Fuzhou University), Fujian Province University (China); College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, New Campus, Minhou, Fujian Province 350108 (China)

2016-11-15

Highlights: • NZVI-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} efficiently photodegrades the organic/inorganic pollutants. • Fe{sup 0} improves the charge separation efficiency of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}. • A possible recover mechanism of nZVI-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} was proposed. - Abstract: Graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}) displays strong potential applications in visible-light photocatalytic for water treatment, but its applications are greatly restricted by high recombination probability of photo-generated electron-hole pairs, as well as a weak reduction ability toward the heavy metals. In this work, we reported the synthesis of nZVI-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nano-hybrid with highly efficiency toward the photodegradation of RhB and Cr(VI) under the visible light irradiation. The nZVI nanoparticles can well be immobilized and dispersed on the surface of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets by a facile borohydride-reduction method. As-synthesized nZVI-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} has an improved photocatalytic activity much better than that of the pure g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}, wherein over 92.9% of Cr(VI) and 99.9% of RhB can be removed by using nZVI-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}. The nZVI particles not only contributes to the reduction and immobilization of Cr(VI), but also accelerates the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of RhB due to a lower recombination rate of photoexcited holes and electrons. Moreover, nZVI-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} preserves superior photodegradation efficiency after five experimental cycles. It can be attributed that nZVI-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} photocatalyst is chemically stable, and part of nZVI can be recovered by g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}. We believe that, the composite of nZVI-g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} reported here could provide guidance for the design of efficient and reusable materials to remove both the organic compounds and heavy metal ions from waste waters.

PHOTOCITYTEX - A LIFE project on the air pollution treatment in European urban environments by means of photocatalytic textiles

Science.gov (United States)

Ródenas, Milagros; Fages, Eduardo; Fatarella, Enrico; Herrero, David; Castagnoli, Lidia; Borrás, Esther; Vera, Teresa; Gómez, Tatiana; Carreño, Javier; López, Ramón; Gimeno, Cristina; Catota, Marlon; Muñoz, Amalia

2016-04-01

In urban areas, air pollution from traffic is becoming a growing problem. In recent years the use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) based photocatalytic self-cleaning and de-polluting materials has been considered to remove these pollutants. TiO2 is now commercially available and used in construction material or paints for environmental purposes. Further work, however, is still required to clarify the potential impacts from wider TiO2 use. Specific test conditions are required to provide objective and accurate knowledge. Under the LIFE PHOTOCITYTEX project, the effectiveness of using TiO2-based photocatalytic nanomaterials in building textiles as a way of improving the air quality in urban areas will be assessed. Moreover, information on secondary products formed during the tests will be obtained, yielding a better overall understanding of the whole process and its implications. For this purpose, a series of demonstrations are foreseen, comprising 1. lab-test and development of textile prototypes at lab scale, 2. larger scale demonstration of the use of photocatalytic textiles in the depollution of urban environments employing the EUPHORE chambers to simulate a number of environmental conditions of various European cities and 3. field demonstrations installing the photocatalytic textiles in two urban locations in Quart de Poblet, a tunnel and a school. A one-year extensive passive dosimetric campaign has already being carried out to characterize the selected urban sites before the installation of the photocatalytic textile prototypes, and a similar campaign after their installation is ongoing. Also, more comprehensive intensive active measurement campaigns have been conducted to account for winter and summer conditions. In parallel, lab-tests have already been completed to determine optimal photocatalytic formulations on textiles, followed by experiments at EUPHORE. Information on the deployment of the campaigns is given together with laboratory conclusions and first

Photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole in aqueous solution using a floating TiO2-expanded perlite photocatalyst

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Długosz, Maciej; Żmudzki, Paweł; Kwiecień, Anna; Szczubiałka, Krzysztof; Krzek, Jan; Nowakowska, Maria

2015-01-01

Highlights: • Sulfamethoxazole was degraded using a floating photocatalyst under UV irradiation. • The photocatalyst was obtained by supporting TiO 2 onto expanded perlite. • The mechanism of sulfamethoxazole photodegradation in water was proposed. • The photodegradation rate of sulfamethoxazole is greater at higher pH. - Abstract: Photocatalytic degradation of an antibiotic, sulfamethoxazole (SMX), in aqueous solution using a novel floating TiO 2 -expanded perlite photocatalyst (EP-TiO 2 -773) and radiation from the near UV spectral range was studied. The process is important considering that SMX is known to be a widespread and highly persistent pollutant of water resources. SMX degradation was described using a pseudo-first-order kinetic equation according to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. The products of the SMX photocatalytic degradation were identified. The effect of pH on the kinetics and mechanism of SMX photocatalytic degradation was explained

Nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} photocatalytic membranes with a hierarchical mesoporous multilayer structure: synthesis, characterization, and multifunction

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Choi, H.; Dionysiou, D.D. [Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0071 (United States); Sofranko, A.C. [Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4741 (United States)

2006-05-19

A novel sol-gel dip-coating process to fabricate nanocrystalline TiO{sub 2} photocatalytic membranes with a robust hierarchical mesoporous multilayer and improved performance has been studied. Various titania sols containing poly(oxyethylenesorbitan monooleate) (Tween 80) surfactant as a pore-directing agent to tailor-design the porous structure of TiO{sub 2} materials at different molar ratios of Tween 80/isopropyl alcohol/acetic acid/titanium tetraisopropoxide = R:45:6:1 have been synthesized. The sols are dip-coated on top of a homemade porous alumina substrate to fabricate TiO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} composite membranes, dried, and calcined, and this procedure is repeated with varying sols in succession. The resulting asymmetric mesoporous TiO{sub 2} membrane with a thickness of 0.9 {mu}m exhibits a hierarchical change in pore diameter from 2-6, through 3-8, to 5-11 nm from the top to the bottom layer. Moreover, the corresponding porosity is incremented from 46.2, through 56.7, to 69.3 %. Compared to a repeated-coating process using a single sol, the hierarchical multilayer process improves water permeability significantly without sacrificing the organic retention and photocatalytic activity of the TiO{sub 2} membranes. The prepared TiO{sub 2} photocatalytic membrane has great potential in developing highly efficient water treatment and reuse systems, for example, decomposition of organic pollutants, inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms, physical separation of contaminants, and self-antifouling action because of its multifunctional capability. (Abstract Copyright [2006], Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

An oil-in-water self-assembly synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic properties of nano Ag@AgCl surface-sensitized K2Ti4O9

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Liang, Yinghua; Lin, Shuanglong; Liu, Li; Hu, Jinshan; Cui, Wenquan

2014-01-01

Highlights: • The plasmatic Ag@AgCl surface-sensitized K 2 Ti 4 O 9 composite photocatalysts. • Ag@AgCl greatly increased visible light absorption for K 2 Ti 4 O 9 . • The photocatalysts exhibited enhanced photocatalytic dye degradation. - Abstract: Nano-sized plasmonic Ag@AgCl surface-sensitized K 2 Ti 4 O 9 composite photocatalysts (hereafter designated as Ag@AgCl/K 2 Ti 4 O 9 ) was synthesized via a facile oil-in-water self-assembly method. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared materials for RhB (Rhodamine B) degradation was examined under visible light irradiation. The results reveal that the size of Ag@AgCl, which evenly dispersed on the surface of K 2 Ti 4 O 9 , distributes about 20–50 nm. The UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicate that Ag@AgCl/K 2 Ti 4 O 9 samples have a significantly enhanced optical absorption in 380–700 nm. The photocatalytic activities of the Ag@AgCl/K 2 Ti 4 O 9 samples increase first and then decrease with increasing amount of loading Ag@AgCl and the Ag@AgCl(20 wt.%)/K 2 Ti 4 O 9 sample exhibits the best photocatalytic activity and 94.47% RhB was degraded after irradiation for 2 h. Additionally, studies performed using radical scavengers indicated that O 2 · − and Cl 0 acted as the main reactive species. The electronic interaction was systematically studied and confirmed by the photo-electrochemical measurements

Biosensor-based real-time monitoring of paracetamol photocatalytic degradation.

Science.gov (United States)

Calas-Blanchard, Carole; Istamboulié, Georges; Bontoux, Margot; Plantard, Gaël; Goetz, Vincent; Noguer, Thierry

2015-07-01

This paper presents for the first time the integration of a biosensor for the on-line, real-time monitoring of a photocatalytic degradation process. Paracetamol was used as a model molecule due to its wide use and occurrence in environmental waters. The biosensor was developed based on tyrosinase immobilization in a polyvinylalcohol photocrosslinkable polymer. It was inserted in a computer-controlled flow system installed besides a photocatalytic reactor including titanium dioxide (TiO2) as photocatalyst. It was shown that the biosensor was able to accurately monitor the paracetamol degradation with time. Compared with conventional HPLC analysis, the described device provides a real-time information on the reaction advancement, allowing a better control of the photodegradation process. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preparation and Photocatalytic Properties of Sr2−xBaxTa3O10−yNz Nanosheets

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Tatsumi Ishihara

2013-01-01

Full Text Available Sr2−xBaxTa3O10−yNz (x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 nanosheets were prepared by exfoliating layered perovskite compounds (CsSr2−xBaxTa3O10−yNz. The Sr1.5Ba0.5Ta3O9.7N0.2 nanosheet showed the highest photocatalytic activity for H2 production from the water/methanol system among the Sr2−xBaxTa3O9.7N0.2 nanosheets prepared. In addition, Rh-loaded Sr1.5Ba0.5Ta3O9.6N0.3 nanosheet showed the photocatalytic activity for oxygen and hydrogen production from water. The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen evolved was around two. These results indicate that the Rh-loaded Sr1.5Ba0.5Ta3O9.6N0.3 nanosheet is a potential catalyst for photocatalytic water splitting.

Starch mediated CdS nanoparticles and their photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Firdaus, Farha, E-mail: Farha-firdaus@yahoo.co.in [Chemistry Section, Women’s College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002 UP (India); Faraz, Mohd [Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002 (India)

2016-05-06

Green synthesis of Cadmium Sulphide (CdS-S) nanoparticles is of considerable interest due to its biocompatible and nontoxicity. Here, we present a biomolecule stimulated chemical method was adopted for the successful synthesis of CdS-S nanoparticles using starch as a capping agent. The CdS-S nanoparticles were characterized by various analytical techniques. The CdS-S nanoparicles exhibit photocatalytic activity against methyl orange (MO) at pH 9 in Visible light and the reaction follows pseudo first-order kinetics. The comparative photocatalytic activity revealed that CdS-S nanoparticles remarkably enhanced activities as compared to the commercial TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles. The outcome of these studies offers valuable for planning CdS-S nanoparticles having photocatalytic activities helpful for the formulation of waste water remediation.

Starch mediated CdS nanoparticles and their photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Firdaus, Farha; Faraz, Mohd

2016-01-01

Green synthesis of Cadmium Sulphide (CdS-S) nanoparticles is of considerable interest due to its biocompatible and nontoxicity. Here, we present a biomolecule stimulated chemical method was adopted for the successful synthesis of CdS-S nanoparticles using starch as a capping agent. The CdS-S nanoparticles were characterized by various analytical techniques. The CdS-S nanoparicles exhibit photocatalytic activity against methyl orange (MO) at pH 9 in Visible light and the reaction follows pseudo first-order kinetics. The comparative photocatalytic activity revealed that CdS-S nanoparticles remarkably enhanced activities as compared to the commercial TiO 2 nanoparticles. The outcome of these studies offers valuable for planning CdS-S nanoparticles having photocatalytic activities helpful for the formulation of waste water remediation.

Preparation and solar-light photocatalytic activity of TiO2 composites: TiO2/kaolin, TiO2/diatomite, and TiO2/zeolite

Science.gov (United States)

Li, Y.; Li, S. G.; Wang, J.; Li, Y.; Ma, C. H.; Zhang, L.

2014-12-01

Three TiO2 loaded composites, TiO2/kaolin, TiO2/diatomite, and TiO2/zeolite, were prepared in order to improve the solar-light photocatalytic activity of TiO2. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity could obviously be enhanced by loading appropriate amount of inorganic mineral materials. Meanwhile, TiO2 content, heat-treatment temperature and heat-treatment time on the photocatalytic activity were reviewed. Otherwise, the effect of solar light irradiation time and dye concentration on the photocatalytic degradation of Acid Red B was investigated. Furthermore, the degradation mechanism and adsorption process were also discussed.

Photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene: influence of trichloroethylene and TiO/sub 2/ concentrations

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Farooq, M.; Raja, I.A.

2005-01-01

Industrial wastewater streams usually contain highly toxic pollutants, cyanides, chlorinated compounds such as trichloroethylene (TCE) etc. The heterogeneous photocatalysis is more efficient technique other than traditionally employed methods used for detoxification of wastewater. The paper describes photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene in aqueous solution using TiO/sub 2/. Variable parameters such as initial concentration of TCE, concentration of TiO/sub 2/ and time were investigated. The TCE contaminated water was circulated in the reactor to expose it to UV radiation. The circulation speed and UV radiation intensity was kept constant. The photocatalytic degradation rate increased with increasing the initial concentration of TCE, but beyond the certain limit, 45 micro l of TCE per litter of water the rate started decreasing. (author)

Synthesis and visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of p–n heterojunction Ag_2O/NaTaO_3 nanocubes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yang, Songbo; Xu, Dongbo; Chen, Biyi; Luo, Bifu; Yan, Xu; Xiao, Lisong; Shi, Weidong

2016-01-01

Highlights: • We firstly report a facile way to prepare the visible-light-driven Ag_2O/NaTaO_3p–n heterojunction by chemical precipitation method. • The Ag_2O/NaTaO_3 heterojunction shows the highest photocatalytic activity than the pure NaTaO_3 and Ag_2O nanoparticles under visible light. • The enhancement of the heterojunction photocatalytic activity was discussed and the photocatalytic mechanism was tested in our paper. • In summary, we think that the Ag_2O/NaTaO_3 heterojunction with the strong visible light absorption and efficient photocatalytic activity have been extended application in photocatalysis for organic dyes pollutants degradation and purification of water. - Abstract: The constructing of p–n heterojunction photocatalytic system has received much attention in environmental purification and hydrogen generation from water. In this study, an efficient visible-light-driven p–n heterojunction Ag_2O/NaTaO_3 was successfully prepared by chemical precipitation method at room temperature. It showed an enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation, much higher than those of either individual Ag_2O or NaTaO_3. The reactive species scavenger results indicated the superoxide anion radicals (·O"2"−) played key roles in RhB decoloration. From the experimental results and the relative band gap position of these semiconductors, a detailed possible photocatalytic mechanism of the Ag_2O/NaTaO_3 heterojunction under visible light was proposed. The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity was attributed to the interfacial electronic interaction between NaTaO_3 and Ag_2O and the high migration efficiency of photogenerated carriers.

Photocatalytic degradation of diuron in aqueous solution by platinized TiO2

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Katsumata, Hideyuki; Sada, Maki; Nakaoka, Yusuke; Kaneco, Satoshi; Suzuki, Tohru; Ohta, Kiyohisa

2009-01-01

The photocatalytic degradation of diuron, which is one of phenylurea herbicides, was carried out in the presence of platinized TiO 2 photocatalyst. Platinization was found to increase the rate of diuron degradation. When 0.2 wt.% of platinum was deposited onto the surface of TiO 2 , an initial diuron concentration of 10 mg L -1 was completely degraded after 20 min. Furthermore, the first-order rate constant for diuron degradation by Pt-TiO 2 was ca. 4 times higher than P-25 TiO 2 . In addition, the photocatalytic activity of Pt-TiO 2 was appeared under visible light. The decrease of TOC as a result of mineralization of diuron was observed during the photocatalytic process. The degree of diuron mineralization was about 97% under UV irradiation after 8 h. The formations of chloride, nitrate and ammonium ions as end-products were observed during the photocatalytic system. The decomposition of diuron gave four kinds of intermediate products. The degradation mechanism of diuron was proposed on the base of the evidence of the identified intermediates. Based on these results, the photocatalytic reaction by Pt-TiO 2 could be useful technology for the treatment of wastewater containing diuron.

Correlation of Photocatalytic Activity with Band Structure of Low-dimensional Semiconductor Nanostructures

Science.gov (United States)

Meng, Fanke

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation by water splitting is a promising technique to produce clean and renewable solar fuel. The development of effective semiconductor photocatalysts to obtain efficient photocatalytic activity is the key objective. However, two critical reasons prevent wide applications of semiconductor photocatalysts: low light usage efficiency and high rates of charge recombination. In this dissertation, several low-dimensional semiconductors were synthesized with hydrothermal, hydrolysis, and chemical impregnation methods. The band structures of the low-dimensional semiconductor materials were engineered to overcome the above mentioned two shortcomings. In addition, the correlation between the photocatalytic activity of the low-dimensional semiconductor materials and their band structures were studied. First, we studied the effect of oxygen vacancies on the photocatalytic activity of one-dimensional anatase TiO2 nanobelts. Given that the oxygen vacancy plays a significant role in band structure and photocatalytic performance of semiconductors, oxygen vacancies were introduced into the anatase TiO2 nanobelts during reduction in H2 at high temperature. The oxygen vacancies of the TiO2 nanobelts boosted visible-light-responsive photocatalytic activity but weakened ultraviolet-light-responsive photocatalytic activity. As oxygen vacancies are commonly introduced by dopants, these results give insight into why doping is not always beneficial to the overall photocatalytic performance despite increases in absorption. Second, we improved the photocatalytic performance of two-dimensional lanthanum titanate (La2Ti2 O7) nanosheets, which are widely studied as an efficient photocatalyst due to the unique layered crystal structure. Nitrogen was doped into the La2Ti2O7 nanosheets and then Pt nanoparticles were loaded onto the La2Ti2O7 nanosheets. Doping nitrogen narrowed the band gap of the La2Ti 2O7 nanosheets by introducing a continuum of states by the valence

Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO: Al Films under Different Light Sources

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Prashant Pradhan

2012-01-01

Full Text Available ZnO and Al doped ZnO films were produced by spray pyrolysis. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM, UV-vis spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. Their photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the decomposition of the methyl orange dye using different light sources: ultraviolet light, artificial white light, and direct sunlight. The films were also tested under darkness for comparison. The ZnO films were able to degrade the test pollutant under UV and sunlight in more than a 60% after 180 min of irradiation and a scarce degradation was obtained using white light. However, the Al doped ZnO films presented a very high degradation rate not only under UV and sunlight (100% degradation, but also under white light (90% degradation after the same irradiation time. An unexpected high degradation was also obtained in the dark, which indicates that a nonphotonic process is taking place parallel to the photocatalytic process. This can be due to the extra electrons—provided by the aluminum atoms—that migrate to the surface and produce radicals favoring the decomposition process even in the dark. The high activity achieved by the ZnO: Al films under natural conditions can be potentially applied to water treatment processes.

Advances in Magnetically Separable Photocatalysts: Smart, Recyclable Materials for Water Pollution Mitigation

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Gcina Mamba

2016-06-01

Full Text Available Organic and inorganic compounds utilised at different stages of various industrial processes are lost into effluent water and eventually find their way into fresh water sources where they cause devastating effects on the ecosystem due to their stability, toxicity, and non-biodegradable nature. Semiconductor photocatalysis has been highlighted as a promising technology for the treatment of water laden with organic, inorganic, and microbial pollutants. However, these semiconductor photocatalysts are applied in powdered form, which makes separation and recycling after treatment extremely difficult. This not only leads to loss of the photocatalyst but also to secondary pollution by the photocatalyst particles. The introduction of various magnetic nanoparticles such as magnetite, maghemite, ferrites, etc. into the photocatalyst matrix has recently become an area of intense research because it allows for the easy separation of the photocatalyst from the treated water using an external magnetic field. Herein, we discuss the recent developments in terms of synthesis and photocatalytic properties of magnetically separable nanocomposites towards water treatment. The influence of the magnetic nanoparticles in the optical properties, charge transfer mechanism, and overall photocatalytic activity is deliberated based on selected results. We conclude the review by providing summary remarks on the successes of magnetic photocatalysts and present some of the future challenges regarding the exploitation of these materials in water treatment.

A Facile and Waste-Free Strategy to Fabricate Pt-C/TiO2 Microspheres: Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance for Hydrogen Evolution

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Hui Li

2014-01-01

Full Text Available A facile and waste-free flame thermal synthesis method was developed for preparing Pt modified C/TiO2 microspheres (Pt-C/TiO2. The photocatalysts were characterized with X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry analysis. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by hydrogen evolution from water splitting under UV-vis light illumination. Benefitting from the electron-hole separation behavior and reduced overpotential of H+/H2, remarkably enhanced hydrogen production was demonstrated and the photocatalytic hydrogen generation from 0.4 wt% Pt-C/TiO2 increased by 22 times. This study also demonstrates that the novel and facile method is highly attractive, due to its easy operation, requiring no post treatment and energy-saving features.

Application of solar photocatalytic ozonation for the degradation of emerging contaminants in water in a pilot plant

OpenAIRE

Beltrán, F.J.; Contreras, S.; Rey, A.; Álvarez, P.M.; Quiñones, D.H.

2015-01-01

10.1016/j.cej.2014.08.067 Aqueous mixtures of six commonly detected emerging contaminants (acetaminophen, antipyrine, bisphenol A, caffeine, metoprolol and testosterone), selected as model compounds, were treated by different solar-driven photochemical processes including photolysis, photocatalytic oxidation with Fe(III) or TiO2, photo-Fenton and single, photolytic and photocatalytic ozonations. Experiments were carried out in a compound parabolic collector photoreactor. It was found that...

Uniform deposition of water-soluble CdS quantum dots on TiO2 nanotube arrays by cyclic voltammetric electrodeposition: Effectively prevent aggregation and enhance visible-light photocatalytic activity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang, Xiaojiao; Lin, Shiwei; Liao, Jianjun; Pan, Nengqian; Li, Danhong; Cao, Xiankun; Li, Jianbao

2013-01-01

Highlights: • Water-soluble CdS QDs were deposited on the TNTAs by DC electrodeposition, CV electrodeposition, and SILAR. • The CV method could effectively prevent the aggregation and uniformly deposit CdS QDs onto the TNTAs. • The CTAB/CdS/TNTAs prepared by the CV method exhibited superior photoelectrical properties and photocatalytic activity. -- Abstract: Water-soluble CdS quantum dots (QDs) covered with cationic surfactant-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) were deposited on the highly ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TNTAs) by various methods, such as direct current (DC) electrodeposition, cyclic voltammetric (CV) electrodeposition, and successive ionic layer adsorption reaction (SILAR). The morphology measurements show that CTAB capping could well control the QD size and the CV method could effectively prevent the nanoparticle aggregation and uniformly deposit QDs onto TNTAs. Among all the deposition methods studied, the sample prepared by the CV method possesses superior photoelectrical properties and photocatalytic activity. A maximum photoconversion efficiency of 2.81% is achieved for the CdS/TNTAs prepared by CV electrodeposition, which exhibits about 17 times enhancement over the efficiency of the sample prepared by DC electrodeposition. And the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under visible-light irradiation demonstrates that the rate constant of the sample prepared by the CV method is almost seven times of that of the untreated TNTAs. Moreover, the underlying mechanism for the improving properties has been discussed

Sustainable decontamination of an actual-site aged PCB-polluted soil through a biosurfactant-based washing followed by a photocatalytic treatment.

Science.gov (United States)

Occulti, Fabio; Roda, Giovanni Camera; Berselli, Sara; Fava, Fabio

2008-04-15

A two phases process consisting of a soya lecithin (SL)-based soil washing process followed by the photocatalytic treatment of resulting effluents was developed and applied at the laboratory scale in the remediation of an actual-site soil historically contaminated by 0.65 g/kg of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Triton X-100 (TX) was employed in the same process as a control surfactant. SL and TX, both applied as 2.25 g/L aqueous solutions, displayed a comparable ability to remove PCBs from the soil. However, SL solution displayed a lower ecotoxicity, a lower ability to mobilize soil constituents and a higher soil detoxification capacity with respect to the TX one. The photocatalytic treatment resulted in marked depletions (from 50% to 70%) of total organic carbon (TOC) and PCBs initially occurring in the SL and TX contaminated effluents. Despite the ability of SL to adversely affect the rate of TOC and PCB photodegradation, higher PCB depletion and dechlorination yields along with lower increases of ecotoxicity were observed in SL-containing effluents with respect to the TX ones at the end of 15 days of treatment. The two phases process developed and tested for the first time in this study seems to have the required features to become, after a proper optimization and scale up, a challenging procedure for the sustainable remediation of actual site, poorly biotreatable PCB-contaminated soils. Copyright 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

New Photocatalysis for Effective Degradation of Organic Pollutants in Water

Science.gov (United States)

Zarei Chaleshtori, M.; Saupe, G. B.; Masoud, S.

2009-12-01

The presence of harmful compounds in water supplies and in the discharge of wastewater from chemical industries, power plants, and agricultural sources is a topic of global concern. The processes and technologies available at the present time for the treatment of polluted water are varied that include traditional water treatment processes such as biological, thermal and chemical treatment. All these water treatment processes, have limitations of their own and none is cost effective. Advanced oxidation processes have been proposed as an alternative for the treatment of this kind of wastewater. Heterogeneous photocatalysis has recently emerged as an efficient method for purifying water. TiO2 has generally been demonstrated to be the most active semiconductor material for decontamination water. One significant factor is the cost of separation TiO2, which is generally a powder having a very small particle size from the water after treatment by either sedimentation or ultrafiltration. The new photocatalyst, HTiNbO5, has been tested to determine whether its photocatalytic efficiency is good enough for use in photocatalytic water purification since it has high surface area and relatively large particle size. The larger particle sizes of the porous materials facilitate catalyst removal from a solution, after purification has taken place. It can be separated from water easily than TiO2, a significant technical improvement that might eliminate the tedious final filtration necessary with a slurry. These materials are characterized and tested as water decontamination photocatalysts. The new catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity, but with a strong pH dependence on the photo efficiency. These results suggest that elimination of the ion exchange character of the catalyst may greatly improve its performance at various pHs. This new research proposes to study the effects of a topotactic dehydration reaction on these new porous material catalysts.

Facile Solvothermal Synthesis of BiOCl/ZnO Heterostructures with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Yong-Fang Li

2014-01-01

Full Text Available Well-defined nanosheet-assembled (BiOClx(ZnO1−x nanoflowers were synthesized by a solvothermal method. It was found that ZnO nanoparticles were anchored on the flower-like BiOCl nanostructures, as demonstrated by varying the initial compositions of the Bi precursor and the volume ratios of mixed solvents (ethylene glycol to water. The as-prepared (BiOCl0.6(ZnO0.4 nanocomposites showed enhanced photocatalytic activity toward rhodamine B degradation under ultraviolet (UV irradiation. And the photocatalytic mechanism was discussed in detail.

Solar Light Responsive Photocatalytic Activity of Reduced Graphene Oxide-Zinc Selenide Nanocomposite

Science.gov (United States)

Chakraborty, Koushik; Ibrahim, Sk; Das, Poulomi; Ghosh, Surajit; Pal, Tanusri

2017-10-01

Solution processable reduced graphene oxide-zinc selenide (RGO-ZnSe) nanocomposite has been successfully synthesized by an easy one-pot single-step solvothermal reaction. The RGO-ZnSe composite was characterized structurally and morphologically by the study of XRD analysis, SEM and TEM imaging. Reduction in graphene oxide was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy analysis. Photocatalytic efficiency of RGO-ZnSe composite was investigated toward the degradation of Rhodamine B under solar light irradiation. Our study indicates that the RGO-ZnSe composite is catalytically more active compared to the controlled-ZnSe under the solar light illumination. Here, RGO plays an important role for photoinduced charge separation and subsequently hinders the electron-hole recombination probability that consequently enhances photocatalytic degradation efficiency. We expect that this type of RGO-based optoelectronics materials opens up a new avenue in the field of photocatalytic degradation of different organic water pollutants.

Continuous-flow photocatalytic treatment of pharmaceutical micropollutants: Activity, inhibition, and deactivation of TiO2 photocatalysts in wastewater effluent

KAUST Repository

Carbonaro, Sean

2013-01-01

%; sulfamethoxazole=25%). Experiments conducted using pretreated WWE and synthetic WWE mimic solutions indicated that both effluent organic matter and inorganic constituents in WWE contributed to the observed photocatalyst inhibition/deactivation. Analysis of immobilized TiO2 thin films after 4d of continuous treatment of the WWE matrix indicated minor deterioration of the porous film and formation of surface precipitates enriched in Al and Ca. Results demonstrated the marked influence of non-target constituents present in complex matrices on long-term photocatalyst activity and highlighted the need for further study of this important issue to advance the development of practical photocatalytic water treatment technologies. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

TiO{sub 2}-based nanotubes modified with nickel: synthesis, properties, and improved photocatalytic activity

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Qamar, M; Ganguli, A K [Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016 (India); Kim, S J, E-mail: sjkim1@sejong.ac.k, E-mail: ashok@chemistry.iitd.ac.i [Department of Nano Science and Technology, Sejong Advanced Institute of Nano Technologies, Sejong University, 98, Gunja-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-747 (Korea, Republic of)

2009-11-11

Titanate nanotubes containing 2.5 wt% Ni were synthesized from TiO{sub 2} sol using alkali hydrothermal treatment followed by a simple ion-exchange process. The changes in phase, shape and morphology, surface area, and photocatalytic activity of these nanotubes have been explored as a function of calcination temperature. The samples were characterized using standard techniques, including x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma spectrometry, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and Brauner-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis. The study revealed that the titanate phase containing Ni ions can be converted to the anatase phase after certain heat treatments but, at the same time, the tubular morphology was partially lost. Investigation of photocatalytic properties demonstrated that the as-prepared Ni-titanate nanotubes were photocatalytically inactive, but when heated at temperatures below 500 {sup 0}C their activity was significantly enhanced with the change in phase. The calcined nanotube samples carrying nickel ion showed better photocatalytic activity than calcined nanotube samples containing protons. The hydrogen adsorption capacity of these titanates has also been measured, and it was found that Ni-titanate nanotubes can adsorb more hydrogen than its counterpart Na-titanate.

Effect of the Mg/Al Ratio on Activated Sol-Gel Hydrotalcites for Photocatalytic Degradation of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Esthela Ramos-Ramírez

2017-01-01

Full Text Available Currently, interest has grown in finding effective solutions for the treatment of water pollution by toxic compounds. Some of the latter that have acquired importance are phenols and chlorophenols, due to their employment in the manufacture of pesticides, insecticides, cords of wood, paper industry, among others. The problem is rooted in that these compounds are very persistent in the environment because they are partially biodegradable and cannot be photodegraded directly by sunlight. Chlorophenols are extremely toxic, especially 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, which is potentially carcinogenic. In this work, Mg/Al-mixed oxide catalysts were obtained from the thermal treatment of hydrotalcite-type materials, synthesized by sol-gel method with different Mg/Al ratios. Hydrotalcites and Mg/Al-mixed oxides were physicochemically characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis (DTA and TGA, and N2 physisorption. The results were obtained on having proven the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol as a pollutant model by water. The catalysts obtained present the hydrotalcite phase with thermal evolution until achieving Mg/Al-mixed oxides at 500°C. The catalysts are of mesoporous materials and exhibiting large surface areas. The catalysts demonstrated good photocatalytic activity with good efficiency, reaching degradation percentages with Mg/Al = 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 ratios of 94.2, 92.5, 86.2, 84.2, and 63.9%, respectively, until achieving mineralization.

Photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole in aqueous solution using a floating TiO{sub 2}-expanded perlite photocatalyst

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Długosz, Maciej [Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 3, 30-060 Kraków (Poland); Żmudzki, Paweł; Kwiecień, Anna [Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków (Poland); Szczubiałka, Krzysztof, E-mail: szczubia@chemia.uj.edu.pl [Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 3, 30-060 Kraków (Poland); Krzek, Jan [Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków (Poland); Nowakowska, Maria, E-mail: nowakows@chemia.uj.edu.pl [Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 3, 30-060 Kraków (Poland)

2015-11-15

Highlights: • Sulfamethoxazole was degraded using a floating photocatalyst under UV irradiation. • The photocatalyst was obtained by supporting TiO{sub 2} onto expanded perlite. • The mechanism of sulfamethoxazole photodegradation in water was proposed. • The photodegradation rate of sulfamethoxazole is greater at higher pH. - Abstract: Photocatalytic degradation of an antibiotic, sulfamethoxazole (SMX), in aqueous solution using a novel floating TiO{sub 2}-expanded perlite photocatalyst (EP-TiO{sub 2}-773) and radiation from the near UV spectral range was studied. The process is important considering that SMX is known to be a widespread and highly persistent pollutant of water resources. SMX degradation was described using a pseudo-first-order kinetic equation according to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. The products of the SMX photocatalytic degradation were identified. The effect of pH on the kinetics and mechanism of SMX photocatalytic degradation was explained.

Tuning Cu dopant of Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S nanocrystals enables high-performance photocatalytic H 2 evolution from water splitting under visible-light irradiation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mei, Zongwei; Zhang, Bingkai; Zheng, Jiaxin; Yuan, Sheng; Zhuo, Zengqing; Meng, Xianguang; Chen, Zonghai; Amine, Khalil; Yang, Wanli; Wang, Lin. -Wang; Wang, Wei; Wang, Shufeng; Gong, Qihuang; Li, Jun; Liu, Fu. -Sheng; Pan, Feng

2016-08-01

Cu-doping into Zn1-xCdxS can greatly enhance the photocatalytic H2 evolution from water splitting under visible-light irradiation. However, it is still controversial for how the Cu-dopant improves this performance. Here, we report that appropriate Cu-doped Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanocrystals reach 21.4 mmol/h/g of H2 evolution rate without cocatalyst in the visible-light region, which is also 2.8 times as high as that of the undoped counterpart, and the corresponding apparent quantum efficiency is 18.8% at 428 nm. It is firstly confirmed that the Cu2+ changes into Cu+ after being doped by soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (sXAS). We theoretically propose that the transformation of 2Cu2+ to 2Cu+ results in one adjacent S2- vacancy (VS) in host during the doping process, while the Cu+-dopant and VS attract the photoexcited holes and electrons, respectively. Accordingly, the photocatalytic activity is improved due to the enhanced separation of photoexcited carriers accompanied with the enhanced light absorption resulting from the Cu+-dopant and 2Cu+/VS complex as possible active site for photocatalytic H2 evolution.

Carrier-selective p- and n-contacts for efficient and stable photocatalytic water reduction

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Bae, Dowon; Pedersen, Thomas; Seger, Brian

2017-01-01

The successful realization of carrier-selective contacts for crystalline silicon (c-Si) based device for pho-tocatalytic hydrogen production has been demonstrated. The proposed TiO2protected carrier-selectivecontacts resemble a metal-oxide-semiconductor configuration, including a highly-doped nan...

Hierarchical Layered WS2 /Graphene-Modified CdS Nanorods for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Science.gov (United States)

Xiang, Quanjun; Cheng, Feiyue; Lang, Di

2016-05-10

Graphene-based ternary composite photocatalysts with genuine heterostructure constituents have attracted extensive attention in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Here we report a new graphene-based ternary composite consisting of CdS nanorods grown on hierarchical layered WS2 /graphene hybrid (WG) as a high-performance photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation. The optimal content of layered WG as a co-catalyst in the ternary CdS/WS2 /graphene composites was found to be 4.2 wt %, giving a visible light photocatalytic H2 -production rate of 1842 μmol h(-1)  g(-1) with an apparent quantum efficiency of 21.2 % at 420 nm. This high photocatalytic H2 -production activity is due to the deposition of CdS nanorods on layered WS2 /graphene sheets, which can efficiently suppress charge recombination, improve interfacial charge transfer, and provide reduction active sites. The proposed mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of CdS nanorods modified with hierarchical layered WG was further confirmed by transient photocurrent response. This work shows that a noble-metal-free hierarchical layered WS2 /graphene nanosheets hybrid can be used as an effective co-catalyst for photocatalytic water splitting. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Preparation and photocatalytic properties of hybrid core–shell reusable CoFe2O4–ZnO nanospheres

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wilson, A.; Mishra, S.R.; Gupta, R.; Ghosh, K.

2012-01-01

Magnetically separable and reusable core–shell CoFe 2 O 4 –ZnO photocatalyst nanospheres were prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis technique using glucose derived carbon nanospheres as the template. The morphology and the phase of core–shell hybrid structure of CoFe 2 O 4 –ZnO were assessed via TEM, SEM and XRD. The magnetic composite showed high UV photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue in water. The photocatalytic activity was found to be ZnO shell thickness dependent. Thicker ZnO shells lead to higher rate of photocatalytic activity. Hybrid nanospheres recovered using an external magnetic field demonstrated good repeatability of photocatalytic activity. These results promise the reusability of the hybrid nanospheres for photocatalytic activity. - Highlights: ► Synthesis of novel hybrid magnetic-ZnO core–shell composite nanospheres. ► High photocatalytic activity of hybrid nanospheres was noted as compared to that of pure ZnO nanoparticles. ► The hybrid nanospheres could be easily retrieved using an external magnet for repeated use. ► Repeated use of hybrid nanospheres did not show any degradation in the photocatalytic activity. ► The photocatalysis rate was observed to be ZnO shell thickness dependent.

Superhydrophobic photocatalytic PTFE – Titania coatings deposited by reactive pDC magnetron sputtering from a blended powder target

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ratova, Marina, E-mail: marina_ratova@hotmail.com; Kelly, Peter J.; West, Glen T.

2017-04-01

The production of photocatalytic coatings with superhydrophobic properties, as opposed to the conventional hydrophilic properties, is desirable for the prevention of adhesion of contaminants to photocatalytic surfaces with subsequent deterioration of photocatalytic properties. In this work polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) – TiO{sub 2} composite thin films were deposited using a novel method of reactive pulsed direct current (pDC) magnetron sputtering of a blended PTFE – titanium oxide powder target. The surface characteristics and photocatalytic properties of the deposited composite coatings were studied. The as-deposited coatings were annealed at 523 K in air and analysed with Raman spectroscopy, optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy. Hydrophobicity was assessed though measurements of water contact angles, and photocatalytic properties were studied via methylene blue dye degradation under UV irradiation. It was found that variations of gas flow and, hence, process pressures allowed deposition of samples combining superhydrophobicity with stable photocatalytic efficiency under UV light irradiation. Reversible wettability behaviour was observed with the alternation of light-dark cycles. - Highlights: • PTFE-TiO{sub 2} coatings were deposited by pDC reactive magnetron sputtering. • Blended powder target was used for coatings deposition. • Deposited coatings combined superhydrophobic and photocatalytic properties. • Under UV irradiation coatings exhibited reversible wettability.

Photolytic and photocatalytic degradation of quinclorac in ultrapure and paddy field water: identification of transformation products and pathways.

Science.gov (United States)

Pareja, Lucía; Pérez-Parada, Andrés; Agüera, Ana; Cesio, Verónica; Heinzen, Horacio; Fernández-Alba, Amadeo R

2012-05-01

Quinclorac (QNC) is an effective but rather persistent herbicide commonly used in rice production. This herbicide presents a mean persistence in the environment so its residues are considered of environmental relevance. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate its environmental behavior and degradation. In the present work, direct photolysis and TiO(2) photocatalysis of the target compound in ultrapure and paddy field water were investigated. After 10h photolysis in ultrapure water, the concentration of QNC declined 26% and 54% at 250 and 700 W m(-2), respectively. However, the amount of quinclorac in paddy field water remained almost constant under the same irradiation conditions. QNC dissipated completely after 40 min of TiO(2) photocatalysis in ultrapure water, whereas 130 min were necessary to degrade 98% of the initial concentration in paddy field water. Possible QNC photolytic and photocatalytic degradation pathways are proposed after structure elucidation of the main transformation products, through liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and exact mass measurements. Pyridine ring hydroxylation at C-9 followed by ring opening and/or oxidative dechlorination were the key steps of QNC degradation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Photochemical removal of aniline in aqueous solutions: switching from photocatalytic degradation to photo-enhanced polymerization recovery.

Science.gov (United States)

Tang, Heqing; Li, Jing; Bie, Yeqiang; Zhu, Lihua; Zou, Jing

2010-03-15

Organic pollutants may be treated by either a degradation process or a recovery process in the view point of sustainable chemistry. Photocatalytic removal of aniline was investigated in aqueous solutions. It was found that the photocatalytic oxidation of aniline resulted in its degradation or polymerization, depending on its concentration. Hence a new treatment strategy was proposed in combination of photocatalytic degradation and polymerization, where the polymerization was in fact a recovery process. When aniline concentration was as low as 0.1 mmol L(-1), it was possible to photocatalytically degrade aniline, which could be further enhanced by increasing solution pH, modifying TiO(2) surface with the addition of anions, or coupling with the photoreduction of added oxidants. When aniline concentration was increased to about 1 mmol L(-1), the photocatalytic oxidation was observed to yield the polymerization of aniline, leading to nanocomposites of polyaniline (PAN) and TiO(2). Alternatively, the photo-enhanced chemical polymerization of aniline at higher concentrations (>or=50 mmol L(-1)) in the presence of chemical oxidants produced PAN nanostructures. The conversion of pollutant aniline to valuable PAN nanostructures or nano-PAN/TiO(2) composites is suggestive for possible applications in the treatment of aniline wastewaters as a sustainable environmental protection measure. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A facile fabrication of nitrogen-doped electrospun In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanofibers with improved visible-light photocatalytic activity

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lu, Na; Shao, Changlu, E-mail: clshao@nenu.edu.cn; Li, Xinghua, E-mail: lixh781@nenu.edu.cn; Miao, Fujun; Wang, Kexin; Liu, Yichun

2017-01-01

Highlights: • N-doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanofibers are facilely fabricated by gaseous ammonia treatment. • Adjusting the annealing temperature leads to different N-doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanofibers. • Nitrogen doping was found to be interstitial mode. • N-In{sub 2}O{sub 3} exhibited effective charge carrier separation and photocatalytic activity. • The photocatalysts can be easily separated from the reaction system. - Abstract: Semiconductor photocatalysis demonstrates to be an effective approach for eliminating most types of environment contaminants and for producing hydrogen. Herein, a facile synthesis route combining electrospinning technique and thermal treatment method under NH{sub 3} atmosphere has been presented as a straightforward protocol for the fabrication of nitrogen-doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} (N-In{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanofibers, the nitrogen content of which can be well controlled by adjusting the annealing temperature. Photocatalytic tests show that the N-In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanofibers demonstrate an improved degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RB) compared with pure In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanofibers under visible-light irradiation. This can be attributed to the nitrogen atom introducing at interstitial sites as well as the generation of oxygen vacancy on the surface of In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanofibers, resulting in the enhanced utilization of visible light for the N-In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanofibers. Furthermore, the obtained N-In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanofibers with the advantage of ultra-long one-dimensional nanostructures can be recycled several times by facile sedimentation and hence present almost no decrease in photocatalytic activity indicative of a well regeneration capability. Therefore, the as-fabricated nitrogen-doped In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanofibers as a promising photocatalyst present good photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant in waste water for practical application.

Photocatalytic degradation using design of experiments: a review and example of the Congo red degradation.

Science.gov (United States)

Sakkas, Vasilios A; Islam, Md Azharul; Stalikas, Constantine; Albanis, Triantafyllos A

2010-03-15

The use of chemometric methods such as response surface methodology (RSM) based on statistical design of experiments (DOEs) is becoming increasingly widespread in several sciences such as analytical chemistry, engineering and environmental chemistry. Applied catalysis, is certainly not the exception. It is clear that photocatalytic processes mated with chemometric experimental design play a crucial role in the ability of reaching the optimum of the catalytic reactions. The present article reviews the major applications of RSM in modern experimental design combined with photocatalytic degradation processes. Moreover, the theoretical principles and designs that enable to obtain a polynomial regression equation, which expresses the influence of process parameters on the response are thoroughly discussed. An original experimental work, the photocatalytic degradation of the dye Congo red (CR) using TiO(2) suspensions and H(2)O(2), in natural surface water (river water) is comprehensively described as a case study, in order to provide sufficient guidelines to deal with this subject, in a rational and integrated way. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Facile synthesis of flake-like TiO{sub 2}/C nano-composites for photocatalytic H{sub 2} evolution under visible-light irradiation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yan, Baolin; Zhou, Juan; Liang, Xiaoyu; Song, Kainan; Su, Xintai, E-mail: suxintai827@163.com

2017-01-15

Highlights: • TiO{sub 2}/C nano-flakes were prepared by a facile phase-transfer strategy combined with salt-template calcination method. • The sub–10 nm of TiO{sub 2} NPs were uniformly dispersed on the carbon flakes. • The TiO{sub 2}/C nano-flakes showed a superior visible-light photocatalytic activity for H{sub 2} production. - Abstract: The production of H{sub 2} by photocatalytic water splitting has become a promising approach for clean, economical, and renewable evolution of H{sub 2} by using solar energy. In spite of tremendous efforts, the present challenge for materials scientists is to build a highly active photocatalytic system with high efficiency and low cost. Here we report a facile method for the preparation of TiO{sub 2}/C nano-flakes, which was used as an efficient visible-light photocatalyst for H{sub 2} evolution. This composite material was prepared by using a phase-transfer strategy combined with salt-template calcination treatment. The results showed that anatase TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles with the diameter of ∼10 nm were uniformly dispersed on the carbon nano-flakes. In addition, the samples prepared at 600 °C (denoted as T600) endowed a larger surface area of 196 m{sup 2} g{sup −1} and higher light absorption, resulting in enhanced photocatalytic activity. Further, the T600 product reached a high H{sub 2} production rate of 57.2 μmol h{sup −1} under visible-light irradiation. This unusual photocatalytic activity arose from the positive synergetic effect between the TiO{sub 2} and carbon in this hybrid catalyst. This work highlights the potential of TiO{sub 2}/C nano-flakes in the field of photocatalytic H{sub 2} evolution under visible-light irradiation.

Critical role of the semiconductor-electrolyte interface in photocatalytic performance for water-splitting reactions using Ta3N5 particles

KAUST Repository

Nurlaela, Ela

2014-08-26

Distinct photocatalytic performance was observed when Ta3N 5 was synthesized from commercially available Ta2O 5 or from Ta2O5 prepared from TaCl5 via the sol-gel route. With respect to photocatalytic O2 evolution with Ag+ as a sacrificial reagent, the Ta3N5 produced from commercial Ta2O5 exhibited higher activity than the Ta3N5 produced via the sol-gel route. When the Ta3N5 photocatalysts were decorated with Pt nanoparticles in a similar manner, the Ta3N5 from the sol-gel route exhibited higher photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity from a 10% aqueous methanol solution than Ta3N5 prepared from commercial Ta2O5 where no hydrogen can be detected. Detailed surface and bulk characterizations were conducted to obtain fundamental insight into the resulting photocatalytic activities. The characterization techniques, including XRD, elemental analysis, Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and surface-area measurements, revealed only negligible differences between these two photocatalysts. Our thorough characterization of the surface properties demonstrated that the very thin outermost layer of Ta3N5, with a thickness of a few nanometers, consists of either the reduced state of tantalum (TaN) or an amorphous phase. The extent of this surface layer was likely dependent on the nature of precursor oxide surfaces. DFT calculations based on partially oxidized Ta3N4.83O0.17 and N deficient Ta3N4.83 consisting of reduced Ta species well described the optoelectrochemical properties obtained from the experiments. Electrochemical and Mott-Schottky analyses demonstrated that the surface layer drastically affects the energetic picture at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface, which can consequently affect the photocatalytic performance. Chemical etching of the surface of Ta3N5 particles to remove this surface layer unites the photocatalytic properties with the photocatalytic performance of these two materials. Mott-Schottky plots of these chemically etched Ta3N5 materials

Solar photocatalytic oxidation of recalcitrant natural metabolic by-products of amoxicillin biodegradation.

Science.gov (United States)

Pereira, João H O S; Reis, Ana C; Homem, Vera; Silva, José A; Alves, Arminda; Borges, Maria T; Boaventura, Rui A R; Vilar, Vítor J P; Nunes, Olga C

2014-11-15

The contamination of the aquatic environment by non-metabolized and metabolized antibiotic residues has brought the necessity of alternative treatment steps to current water decontamination technologies. This work assessed the feasibility of using a multistage treatment system for amoxicillin (AMX) spiked solutions combining: i) a biological treatment process using an enriched culture to metabolize AMX, with ii) a solar photocatalytic system to achieve the removal of the metabolized transformation products (TPs) identified via LC-MS, recalcitrant to further biological degradation. Firstly, a mixed culture (MC) was obtained through the enrichment of an activated sludge sample collected in an urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Secondly, different aqueous matrices spiked with AMX were treated with the MC and the metabolic transformation products were identified. Thirdly, the efficiency of two solar assisted photocatalytic processes (TiO2/UV or Fe(3+)/Oxalate/H2O2/UV-Vis) was assessed in the degradation of the obtained TPs using a lab-scale prototype photoreactor equipped with a compound parabolic collector (CPC). Highest AMX specific biodegradation rates were obtained in buffer and urban wastewater (WW) media (0.10 ± 0.01 and 0.13 ± 0.07 g(AMX) g(biomass)(-1) h(-1), respectively). The resulting TPs, which no longer presented antibacterial activity, were identified as amoxicilloic acid (m/z = 384). The performance of the Fe(3+)/Oxalate/H2O2/UV-Vis system in the removal of the TPs from WW medium was superior to the TiO2/UV process (TPs no longer detected after 40 min (QUV = 2.6 kJ L(-1)), against incomplete TPs removal after 240 min (QUV = 14.9 kJ L(-1)), respectively). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efficient solar light harvesting CdS/Co{sub 9}S{sub 8} hollow cubes for Z-scheme photocatalytic water splitting

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Qiu, Bocheng; Zhu, Qiaohong; Du, Mengmeng; Fan, Linggang; Xing, Mingyang; Zhang, Jinlong [Key Lab. for Advanced Materials and Inst. of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Univ. of Science and Technology, Shanghai (China)

2017-03-01

Hollow structures with an efficient light harvesting and tunable interior component offer great advantages for constructing a Z-scheme system. Controlled design of hollow cobalt sulfide (Co{sub 9}S{sub 8}) cubes embedded with cadmium sulfide quantum dots (QDs) is described, using hollow Co(OH){sub 2} as the template and a one-pot hydrothermal strategy. The hollow CdS/Co{sub 9}S{sub 8} cubes utilize multiple reflections of light in the cubic structure to achieve enhanced photocatalytic activity. Importantly, the photoexcited charge carriers can be effectively separated by the construction of a redox-mediator-free Z-scheme system. The hydrogen evolution rate over hollow CdS/Co{sub 9}S{sub 8} is 134 and 9.1 times higher than that of pure hollow Co{sub 9}S{sub 8} and CdS QDs under simulated solar light irradiation, respectively. Moreover, this is the first report describing construction of a hollow Co{sub 9}S{sub 8} based Z-scheme system for photocatalytic water splitting, which gives full play to the advantages of light-harvesting and charges separation. (copyright 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Enhanced photocatalytic H{sub 2} production on CdS nanorod using cobalt-phosphate as oxidation cocatalyst

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Di, Tingmin; Zhu, Bicheng; Zhang, Jun; Cheng, Bei [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070 (China); Yu, Jiaguo, E-mail: jiaguoyu@yahoo.com [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070 (China); Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589 (Saudi Arabia)

2016-12-15

Highlights: • Co-Pi/CdS composites were synthesized by a simple photodeposition method. • The composites showed superior photocatalytic H{sub 2} production activity. • The optimal H{sub 2} production rate of Co-Pi/CdS was even higher than that of Pt-CdS. • Co-Pi is a good oxidation cocatalyst used for capture of photogenerated hole. - Abstract: Employing visible light responsive semiconductor for photocatalytic hydrogen production by water splitting is an efficient way for utilizing renewable solar energy to solve the depletion of fossil fuel and environmental contamination. Herein, we report enhanced photocatalytic H{sub 2}-production performance over CdS nanorod using cobalt-phosphate (Co-Pi) as a water oxdation cocatalyst. The optimal Co-Pi modified CdS nanocomposite photocatalyst with the Co-Pi content of 8.4 mol% has a superior visible light H{sub 2}-production rate of 13.3 mmol h{sup −1} g{sup −1} with an apparent quantum efficiency of 24.3% at 420 nm, which is even higher than that of 1 wt% Pt-CdS (11.3 mmol h{sup −1} g{sup −1}) under the same conditions. The enhanced visible-light photocatalytic H{sub 2} production activity was attributed to the hole trapping and collecting ability of Co-Pi cocatalyst, which could effectively suppress the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and increase the electron density for hydrogen production. This work shows a possibility of using earth-abundant Co-Pi as cocatalyst for enhancing photocatalytic H{sub 2} production.

Photocatalytic degradation of diuron in aqueous solution by platinized TiO{sub 2}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Katsumata, Hideyuki, E-mail: hidek@chem.mie-u.ac.jp [Department of Chemistry for Materials, Graduate School of Engineering, Mie University, Tsu, Mie 514-8507 (Japan); Sada, Maki; Nakaoka, Yusuke; Kaneco, Satoshi [Department of Chemistry for Materials, Graduate School of Engineering, Mie University, Tsu, Mie 514-8507 (Japan); Suzuki, Tohru [Environmental Preservation Center, Mie University, Tsu, Mie 514-8507 (Japan); Ohta, Kiyohisa [Department of Chemistry for Materials, Graduate School of Engineering, Mie University, Tsu, Mie 514-8507 (Japan)

2009-11-15

The photocatalytic degradation of diuron, which is one of phenylurea herbicides, was carried out in the presence of platinized TiO{sub 2} photocatalyst. Platinization was found to increase the rate of diuron degradation. When 0.2 wt.% of platinum was deposited onto the surface of TiO{sub 2}, an initial diuron concentration of 10 mg L{sup -1} was completely degraded after 20 min. Furthermore, the first-order rate constant for diuron degradation by Pt-TiO{sub 2} was ca. 4 times higher than P-25 TiO{sub 2}. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of Pt-TiO{sub 2} was appeared under visible light. The decrease of TOC as a result of mineralization of diuron was observed during the photocatalytic process. The degree of diuron mineralization was about 97% under UV irradiation after 8 h. The formations of chloride, nitrate and ammonium ions as end-products were observed during the photocatalytic system. The decomposition of diuron gave four kinds of intermediate products. The degradation mechanism of diuron was proposed on the base of the evidence of the identified intermediates. Based on these results, the photocatalytic reaction by Pt-TiO{sub 2} could be useful technology for the treatment of wastewater containing diuron.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of CeO2-TiO2 nanocomposite for degradation of crystal violet dye and industrial waste effluent

Science.gov (United States)

Zahoor, Mehvish; Arshad, Amara; Khan, Yaqoob; Iqbal, Mazhar; Bajwa, Sadia Zafar; Soomro, Razium Ali; Ahmad, Ishaq; Butt, Faheem K.; Iqbal, M. Zubair; Wu, Aiguo; Khan, Waheed S.

2018-03-01

This study presents the synthesis of CeO2-TiO2 nanocomposite and its potential application for the visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of model crystal violet dye as well as real industrial waste water. The ceria-titania (CeO2-TiO2) nanocomposite material was synthesised using facile hydrothermal route without the assistance of any template molecule. As-prepared composite was characterised by SEM, TEM, HRTEM, XRD, XPS for surface features, morphological and crystalline characters. The formed nanostructures were determined to possess crystal-like geometrical shape and average size less than 100 nm. The as-synthesised nanocomposite was further investigated for their heterogeneous photocatalytic potential against the oxidative degradation of CV dye taken as model pollutant. The photo-catalytic performance of the as-synthesised material was evaluated both under ultra-violet as well as visible light. Best photocatalytic performance was achieved under visible light with complete degradation (100%) exhibited within 60 min of irradiation time. The kinetics of the photocatalytic process were also considered and the reaction rate constant for CeO2-TiO2 nanocomposite was determined to be 0.0125 and 0.0662 min-1 for ultra-violet and visible region, respectively. In addition, the as-synthesised nanocomposite demonstrated promising results when considered for the photo-catalytic degradation of coloured industrial waste water collected from local textile industry situated in Faisalabad region of Pakistan. Enhanced photo-catalytic performance of CeO2-TiO2 nanocomposite was proposed owing to heterostructure formation leading to reduced electron-hole recombination.

Reactivation and reuse of TiO2-SnS2 composite catalyst for solar-driven water treatment.

Science.gov (United States)

Kovacic, Marin; Kopcic, Nina; Kusic, Hrvoje; Stangar, Urska Lavrencic; Dionysiou, Dionysios D; Bozic, Ana Loncaric

2018-01-01

One of the most important features of photocatalytic materials intended to be used for water treatment is their long-term stability. The study is focused on the application of thermal and chemical treatments for the reactivation of TiO 2 -SnS 2 composite photocatalyst, prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and immobilized on the glass support using titania/silica binder. Such a catalytic system was applied in solar-driven treatment, solar/TiO 2 -SnS 2 /H 2 O 2 , for the purification of water contaminated with diclofenac (DCF). The effectiveness of studied reactivation methods for retaining TiO 2 -SnS 2 activity in consecutive cycles was evaluated on basis of DCF removal and conversion, and TOC removal and mineralization of organic content. Besides these water quality parameters, biodegradability changes in DCF aqueous solution treated by solar/TiO 2 -SnS 2 /H 2 O 2 process using simply reused (air-dried) and thermally and chemically reactivated composite photocatalyst through six consecutive cycles were monitored. It was established that both thermal and chemical reactivation retain TiO 2 -SnS 2 activity in the second cycle of its reuse. However, both treatments caused the alteration in the TiO 2 -SnS 2 morphology due to the partial transformation of visible-active SnS 2 into non-active SnO 2 . Such alteration, repeated through consecutive reactivation and reuse, was reflected through gradual activity loss of TiO 2 -SnS 2 composite in applied solar-driven water treatment.

Degradation of ethylenethiourea pesticide metabolite from water by photocatalytic processes.

Science.gov (United States)

Bottrel, Sue Ellen C; Amorim, Camila C; Leão, Mônica M D; Costa, Elizângela P; Lacerda, Igor A

2014-01-01

In this study, photocatalytic (photo-Fenton and H2O2/UV) and dark Fenton processes were used to remove ethylenethiourea (ETU) from water. The experiments were conducted in a photo-reactor with an 80 W mercury vapor lamp. The mineralization of ETU was determined by total organic carbon analysis, and ETU degradation was qualitatively monitored by the reduction of UV absorbance at 232 nm. A higher mineralization efficiency was obtained by using the photo-peroxidation process (UV/H2O2). Approximately 77% of ETU was mineralized within 120 min of the reaction using [H2O2]0 = 400 mg L(-1). The photo-Fenton process mineralized 70% of the ETU with [H2O2]0 = 800 mg L(-1) and [Fe(2+)] = 400 mg L(-1), and there is evidence that hydrogen peroxide was the limiting reagent in the reaction because it was rapidly consumed. Moreover, increasing the concentration of H2O2 from 800 mg L(-1) to 1200 mg L(-1) did not enhance the degradation of ETU. Kinetics studies revealed that the pseudo-second-order model best fit the experimental conditions. The k values for the UV/H2O2 and photo-Fenton processes were determined to be 6.2 × 10(-4) mg L(-1) min(-1) and 7.7 × 10(-4) mg L(-1) min(-1), respectively. The mineralization of ETU in the absence of hydrogen peroxide has led to the conclusion that ETU transformation products are susceptible to photolysis by UV light. These are promising results for further research. The processes that were investigated can be used to remove pesticide metabolites from drinking water sources and wastewater in developing countries.

Photocatalytic activity and RNO dye degradation of nitrogen-doped TiO{sub 2} prepared by ionothermal synthesis

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pipi, Angelo; Ruotolo, Luis, E-mail: pluis@ufscar.br [Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos (UFSCar), SP (Brazil). Departamento de Engenharia Quimica; Byzynski, Gabriela [Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Araraquara, SP (Brazil)

2017-05-15

This work concerns the preparation a nitrogen-doped TiO{sub 2} by ionothermal synthesis methods and the photocatalytic studies. In this procedure, alkoxide was used as a titanium source, and a deep eutectic mixture of choline chloride and urea (molar ratio 1:2) served as a solvent and source of nitrogen. Different samples were synthesized varying the percentages of the eutectic mixture, titanium butoxide, and water, as well as temperature and reaction time. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. N-doping was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the N-TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles was evaluated in the oxidation of N,N-dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline (RNO) dye. The best photocatalytic activity under illumination by UV and visible light was found for the catalysts prepared under reflux in the presence of water, and for the catalysts prepared hydrothermally using intermediate percentages of the nitrogen source (the eutectic mixture). (author)

Modulation of defect-mediated energy transfer from ZnO nanoparticles for the photocatalytic degradation of bilirubin

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Tanujjal Bora

2013-11-01

Full Text Available In recent years, nanotechnology has gained significant interest for applications in the medical field. In this regard, a utilization of the ZnO nanoparticles for the efficient degradation of bilirubin (BR through photocatalysis was explored. BR is a water insoluble byproduct of the heme catabolism that can cause jaundice when its excretion is impaired. The photocatalytic degradation of BR activated by ZnO nanoparticles through a non-radiative energy transfer pathway can be influenced by the surface defect-states (mainly the oxygen vacancies of the catalyst nanoparticles. These were modulated by applying a simple annealing in an oxygen-rich atmosphere. The mechanism of the energy transfer process between the ZnO nanoparticles and the BR molecules adsorbed at the surface was studied by using steady-state and picosecond-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. A correlation of photocatalytic degradation and time-correlated single photon counting studies revealed that the defect-engineered ZnO nanoparticles that were obtained through post-annealing treatments led to an efficient decomposition of BR molecules that was enabled by Förster resonance energy transfer.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of titania-silica mixed oxide prepared via basic hydrolyzation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Xie Chao; Xu Zili; Yang Qiujing; Xue Baoyong; Du Yaoguo; Zhang Jiahua

2004-01-01

Two different synthesis routes were applied to prepare TiO 2 -XSiO 2 (X denotes mol% of silica in titania-silica mixed oxides) with different silica concentrations by using ammonia water as hydrolysis catalyst. Through comparing the photocatalytic performance of two sets of mixed oxides, we found that the photocatalytic activity of mixed oxides prepared via the route which can promote homogeneity, was significantly enhanced as compared with that of counterparts prepared via the another route, and the highest photocatalytic activity obtained by adding about 9.1 mol% silica into titania was much higher than that of pure TiO 2 . The mixed oxides were investigated by means of XRD, thermal analysis, UV-vis, FT-IR and XPS. The characterization results suggest that, in comparison with pure TiO 2 , the mixed oxides exhibit smaller crystallite size and higher thermal stability which can elevate the temperature of anatase to rutile phase transformation due to the addition of silica. Furthermore, Broensted acidity, which is associated with the formation of Ti-O-Si hetero linkages where tetrahedrally coordinated silica is chemically mixed with the octahedral titania matrix, may be a very important contribution to the enhanced photocatalytic activity of titania-silica mixed oxides as well

Effects of indium contents on photocatalytic performance of ZnIn_2S_4 for hydrogen evolution under visible light

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Song, Kelin; Zhu, Rongshu; Tian, Fei; Cao, Gang; Ouyang, Feng

2015-01-01

A series of ZnIn_xS_4_+_y (x=1.6, 2.0, 2.3, 2.6, 2.9, 3.1) photocatalysts were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and characterized by various analytical techniques, such as XRD, EDS, UV–vis DRS, SEM, TEM, BET and PL. The ZnIn_xS_4_+_y photocatalysts had a similar crystal structure. With the increase of indium content, the absorption edges of ZnIn_xS_4_+_y photocatalysts shifted to longer wavelength, their crystal sizes decreased firstly and then increased and the variation of the specific surface area and total pore volume was exactly opposite. Especially, when x=2.3, ZnIn_2_._3S_4_+_y catalyst had smallest crystal size, largest specific surface area and total pore volume. Additionally, the morphology of ZnIn_xS_4_+_y greatly depended on the contents of indium. The photocatalytic activity of ZnIn_xS_4_+_y was evaluated by photocatalytic hydrogen production from water under visible light. The ZnIn_2_._3S_4_+_y sample had the highest photocatalytic activity among these ZnIn_xS_4_+_y photocatalysts and its hydrogen production rate was 363 μmol/g h. - Graphical abstract: First, a series of catalysts were synthesized. And then those were characterized by various analytical techniques (such as SEM). finally, The photocatalytic activity of catalyst was evaluated by photocatalytic hydrogen production from water under visible light. - Highlights: • The photocatalytic property was studied upon visible-light irradiation. • ZnIn_xS_4_+_y photocatalysts show superior photocatalytic activity. • The catalyst of grain size, morphology and BET are related to indium content. • ZnIn_xS_4_+_y photocatalysts were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method.

Synthesis and visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of p–n heterojunction Ag{sub 2}O/NaTaO{sub 3} nanocubes

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yang, Songbo [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China); Xu, Dongbo [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China); School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China); Chen, Biyi; Luo, Bifu [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China); Yan, Xu [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China); School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China); Xiao, Lisong, E-mail: xiaolisong123@sina.com [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China); Shi, Weidong, E-mail: swd1978@ujs.edu.cn [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China)

2016-10-15

Highlights: • We firstly report a facile way to prepare the visible-light-driven Ag{sub 2}O/NaTaO{sub 3}p–n heterojunction by chemical precipitation method. • The Ag{sub 2}O/NaTaO{sub 3} heterojunction shows the highest photocatalytic activity than the pure NaTaO{sub 3} and Ag{sub 2}O nanoparticles under visible light. • The enhancement of the heterojunction photocatalytic activity was discussed and the photocatalytic mechanism was tested in our paper. • In summary, we think that the Ag{sub 2}O/NaTaO{sub 3} heterojunction with the strong visible light absorption and efficient photocatalytic activity have been extended application in photocatalysis for organic dyes pollutants degradation and purification of water. - Abstract: The constructing of p–n heterojunction photocatalytic system has received much attention in environmental purification and hydrogen generation from water. In this study, an efficient visible-light-driven p–n heterojunction Ag{sub 2}O/NaTaO{sub 3} was successfully prepared by chemical precipitation method at room temperature. It showed an enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation, much higher than those of either individual Ag{sub 2}O or NaTaO{sub 3}. The reactive species scavenger results indicated the superoxide anion radicals (·O{sup 2−}) played key roles in RhB decoloration. From the experimental results and the relative band gap position of these semiconductors, a detailed possible photocatalytic mechanism of the Ag{sub 2}O/NaTaO{sub 3} heterojunction under visible light was proposed. The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity was attributed to the interfacial electronic interaction between NaTaO{sub 3} and Ag{sub 2}O and the high migration efficiency of photogenerated carriers.

Solution processable RGO-CdZnS composite for solar light responsive photocatalytic degradation of 4-Nitrophenol

Science.gov (United States)

Ibrahim, Sk; Chakraborty, Koushik; Pal, Tanusri; Ghosh, Surajit

2017-05-01

We report the one pot single step synthesis and characterization of solution processable reduced graphene oxide (RGO) - cadmium zinc sulfide (CdZnS) nanocomposite materials. The composite was characterized structurally and morphologically by XRD and TEM studies. The reduction of GO in RGO-CdZnS composite, was confirmed by XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the RGO-CdZnS composite was investigated towards the degradation of 4-Nitrophenol. A notable increase of photocatalytic efficiency of RGO-CdZnS compare to controlled CdZnS was observed. Here RGO plays a crucial role to efficient photo induced charge separation from the CdZnS, and decreases the electron-hole recombination probability and subsequently enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the RGO-CdZnS composite material under simulated solar light irradiation. This work highlights the potential application of RGO-based materials in the field of photocatalytic degradation of organic water pollutant.

Visible-light photocatalytic activity of nitrided TiO2 thin films

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Camps, Enrique; Escobar-Alarcon, L.; Camacho-Lopez, Marco Antonio; Casados, Dora A. Solis

2010-01-01

TiO 2 thin films have been applied in UV-light photocatalysis. Nevertheless visible-light photocatalytic activity would make this material more attractive for applications. In this work we present results on the modification of titanium oxide (anatase) sol-gel thin films, via a nitriding process using a microwave plasma source. After the treatment in the nitrogen plasma, the nitrogen content in the TiO 2 films varied in the range from 14 up to 28 at%. The titanium oxide films and the nitrided ones were characterized by XPS, micro-Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity tests were done using a Methylene Blue dye solution, and as catalyst TiO 2 and nitrided TiO 2 films. The irradiation of films was carried out with a lamp with emission in the visible (without UV). The results showed that the nitrided TiO 2 films had photocatalytic activity, while the unnitrided films did not.

Preparation of re-usable photocatalytic filter for degradation of Malachite Green dye under UV and vis-irradiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sayilkan, F.; Asiltuerk, M.; Tatar, P.; Kiraz, N.; Arpac, E.; Sayilkan, H.

2007-01-01

Sn 4+ doped and undoped nano-TiO 2 particles easily dispersed in water were synthesized without using organic solvent by hydrothermal process. Nanostructure-TiO 2 based thin films were prepared on flyswatter substrate, made with stainless steel, by dip-coating technique. The structure, surface and optical properties of the particles and thin films were characterized by element analysis and XRD, BET, SEM and UV/vis/NIR techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the films were tested for degradation of Malachite Green dye in solution under UV and vis-lights. The results showed that the coated flyswatter has a very high photocatalytic performance for the photodegradation of Malachite Green irradiated with UV and vis-lights. The results also proved that the hydrothermally synthesized nano-TiO 2 particles are fully anatase crystalline form and are easily dispersed in water, the coated surfaces are hydrophilic, and the doping of transition metal ion efficiently improved the degradation performance of TiO 2 -coated flyswatter. The photocatalytic performances determined at both irradiation conditions were very good and were almost similar to each other for Sn 4+ doped TiO 2 -coated flyswatter and it can be repeatedly used with increasing photocatalytic activity compared to undoped TiO 2 -coated flyswatter

Quinary wurtzite Zn-Ga-Ge-N-O solid solutions and their photocatalytic properties under visible light irradiation

Science.gov (United States)

Xie, Yinghao; Wu, Fangfang; Sun, Xiaoqin; Chen, Hongmei; Lv, Meilin; Ni, Shuang; Liu, Gang; Xu, Xiaoxiang

2016-01-01

Wurtzite solid solutions between GaN and ZnO highlight an intriguing paradigm for water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen using solar energy. However, large composition discrepancy often occurs inside the compound owing to the volatile nature of Zn, thereby prescribing rigorous terms on synthetic conditions. Here we demonstrate the merits of constituting quinary Zn-Ga-Ge-N-O solid solutions by introducing Ge into the wurtzite framework. The presence of Ge not only mitigates the vaporization of Zn but also strongly promotes particle crystallization. Synthetic details for these quinary compounds were systematically explored and their photocatalytic properties were thoroughly investigated. Proper starting molar ratios of Zn/Ga/Ge are of primary importance for single phase formation, high particle crystallinity and good photocatalytic performance. Efficient photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen production from water were achieved for these quinary solid solutions which is strongly correlated with Ge content in the structure. Apparent quantum efficiency for optimized sample approaches 1.01% for hydrogen production and 1.14% for oxygen production. Theoretical calculation reveals the critical role of Zn for the band gap reduction in these solid solutions and their superior photocatalytic acitivity can be understood by the preservation of Zn in the structure as well as a good crystallinity after introducing Ge.

Photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin drug in water using ZnO nanoparticles

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

El-Kemary, Maged, E-mail: elkemary@yahoo.co [Photo- and Nanochemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516 Kafr ElSheikh (Egypt); El-Shamy, Hany; El-Mehasseb, Ibrahim [Photo- and Nanochemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516 Kafr ElSheikh (Egypt)

2010-12-15

We report the synthesis of nanostructure ZnO semiconductor with {approx}2.1 nm diameter using a chemical precipitation method. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The optical properties were investigated by UV-vis and fluorescence techniques. The absorption spectra exhibit a sharp absorption edge at {approx}334 nm corresponding to band gap of {approx}3.7 eV. The fluorescence spectra displayed a near-band-edge ultraviolet excitonic emission at {approx}410 nm and a green emission peak at {approx}525 nm, due to a transition of a photo-generated electron from the conduction band to a deeply trapped hole. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared ZnO nanoparticles has been investigated for the degradation of ciprofloxacin drug under UV light irradiation in aqueous solutions of different pH values. The results showed that the photocatalytic degradation process is effective at pH 7 and 10, but it is rather slow at pH 4. Higher degradation efficiency ({approx}50%) of the drug was observed at pH 10 after 60 min. Photodegradation of the drug follows a pseudo-first-order kinetics.

TiO{sub 2} Processed by pressurized hot solvents as a novel photocatalyst for photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Reli, Martin, E-mail: martin.reli@vsb.cz [Institute of Environmental Technology, VŠB-TU Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava (Czech Republic); Kobielusz, Marcin [Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, ul. Ingardena 3, 30-060 Kraków (Poland); Matějová, Lenka [Institute of Environmental Technology, VŠB-TU Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava (Czech Republic); Daniš, Stanislav [Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague, Ke Karlovu 5, 121 16 Prague 2 (Czech Republic); Macyk, Wojciech [Centre ENET, VŠB-TU Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava (Czech Republic); Obalová, Lucie [Institute of Environmental Technology, VŠB-TU Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava (Czech Republic); Kuśtrowski, Piotr; Rokicińska, Anna [Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, ul. Ingardena 3, 30-060 Kraków (Poland); Kočí, Kamila [Institute of Environmental Technology, VŠB-TU Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava (Czech Republic); Centre ENET, VŠB-TU Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava (Czech Republic)

2017-01-01

Highlights: • Synthesis of anatase-brookite TiO{sub 2} photocatalysts has been described. • The materials photocatalyze carbon dioxide reduction to methane. • The photoactivity of the synthesized composites has been compared with the activity of anatase-rutile material (P25). • The influence of electronic structure on photocatalytic activity has been discussed. - Abstract: Anatase-brookite TiO{sub 2} photocatalysts were prepared by the sol-gel process controlled within reverse micelles and processing by pressurized hot solvents–water/methanol/water (TiO{sub 2}(M)) and water/ethanol/water (TiO{sub 2}(E)), as an unconventional alternative to common calcination. The main goal of this work was to prepare anatase-brookite mixtures by processing by two different alcohols (methanol and ethanol) and evaluate the influence of the alcohol on the photocatalytic activity. Prepared photocatalysts were characterized by organic elemental analysis, nitrogen physisorption, XRD, UV–vis, photoelectrochemical and spectroelectrochemical measurements and XPS. The prepared photocatalysts efficiency was tested on the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide and compared with commercial TiO{sub 2} Evonik P25. Both prepared nanocomposites were more efficient towards methane production but Evonik P25 was the most efficient towards hydrogen generated through water splitting. The higher performance of anatase-brookite mixture towards methane production can be explained by (i) a higher photocatalytic activity of brookite than rutile; (ii) a large surface area of anatase-brookite composites enabling better carbon dioxide adsorption; (iii) the photoinduced electron transfer from the brookite conduction band to the anatase conduction band. On the other hand, a higher production of hydrogen in the presence of Evonik P25 is caused by a better charge separation in anatase-rutile than anatase-brookite phase compositions. TiO{sub 2}(M) appeared more active than TiO{sub 2}(E) in the

Adsorption and photocatalytic activity of electron-irradiated polystyrene nanosphere multi-layer film

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cho, Sung Oh; Yoo, Seung Hwa; Kim, Jea Joon; Kum, Jong Min

2012-01-01

Photocatalytic decomposition of aqueous organic pollutant on semiconductor materials has been widely studied as a simple and clean process for organic pollutant removal. The reaction mechanism have been revealed and some fundamental requirements should be satisfied for high photocatalytic activity, such as high chemical, thermal stability in water, intense light absorption, efficient charge separation, large surface area, high pollutant adsorption ability, etc. However, until now on, no single material fulfills all these requirements. Therefore, lots of efforts have been made to enhance the activity of photocatalysts by several approaches. By controlling the band-gap of photocatalyst or combining with narrow band-gap semiconductor, the light absorption can expand to the visible-light spectrum region that increases the charge-carrier generation. By adopting nanostructured morphologies, large surface area can provide huge amount of surface reaction sites and reduce the charge-carrier recombination before it reaches these sites. Also, several reports have shown that, by increasing the adsorption of pollutant on the photocatalyst surface, synergistic enhancement can occur in the photocatalytic activity. Along with these fundamental requirements, photocatalysts should be non-toxic, abundant, and easily synthesizable for economical and eco-friendly applications. During a few decades, various inorganic semiconductors, especially, metal oxides (TiO 2 , ZnO 2 , WO 3 , etc), metal sulfides (CdS, PbS, etc), and dye molecules with a metal core (Ru-, Ir- based single-molecules) have been widely studied as a photocatalyst. However, even though lots of studies have been made, issues related to the potential threat against human health by using these kinds of metal-containing inorganic semiconductors are still under dispute. Recently, metal-free organic photocatalyst (g-C 3 N 4 , C 3 N 3 S 3 ) have been synthesized, and showed outstanding photocatalytic activities for H 2

Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic studies of Cu , Sn ...

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

method. Metal ions (Cu2+ and Sn2+), and non-metal anion, N3−, were substituted into the K5Sb5P2O20 for pos- ... in the photocatalytic reaction was studied using their appropriate scavengers. Keywords. ... K5Sb5P2O20 and exchange of its potassium with copper and tin ions ... distilled water and dried in air at 100. ◦. C.

Temperature dependent optical characterization of Ni-TiO2 thin films as potential photocatalytic material

Science.gov (United States)

De, Rajnarayan; Haque, S. Maidul; Tripathi, S.; Rao, K. Divakar; Singh, Ranveer; Som, T.; Sahoo, N. K.

2017-09-01

Along with other transition metal doped titanium dioxide materials, Ni-TiO2 is considered to be one of the most efficient materials for catalytic applications due to its suitable energy band positions in the electronic structure. The present manuscript explores the possibility of improving the photocatalytic activity of RF magnetron sputtered Ni-TiO2 films upon heat treatment. Optical, structural and morphological and photocatalytic properties of the films have been investigated in detail for as deposited and heat treated samples. Evolution of refractive index (RI) and total film thickness as estimated from spectroscopic ellipsometry characterization are found to be in agreement with the trend in density and total film thickness estimated from grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity measurement. Interestingly, the evolution of these macroscopic properties were found to be correlated with the corresponding microstructural modifications realized in terms of anatase to rutile phase transformation and appearance of a secondary phase namely NiTiO3 at high temperature. Corresponding morphological properties of the films were also found to be temperature dependent which leads to modifications in the grain structure. An appreciable reduction of optical band gap from 2.9 to 2.5 eV of Ni-TiO2 thin films was also observed as a result of post deposition heat treatment. Testing of photocatalytic activity of the films performed under UV illumination demonstrates heat treatment under atmospheric ambience to be an effective means to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of transition metal doped titania samples.

Preparation and photocatalytic properties of hybrid core-shell reusable CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}-ZnO nanospheres

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wilson, A. [Department of Physics, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (United States); Mishra, S.R., E-mail: srmishra@memphis.edu [Department of Physics, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (United States); Gupta, R.; Ghosh, K. [Department of Physics, Materials Science, and Astronomy, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO (United States)

2012-08-15

Magnetically separable and reusable core-shell CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}-ZnO photocatalyst nanospheres were prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis technique using glucose derived carbon nanospheres as the template. The morphology and the phase of core-shell hybrid structure of CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}-ZnO were assessed via TEM, SEM and XRD. The magnetic composite showed high UV photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue in water. The photocatalytic activity was found to be ZnO shell thickness dependent. Thicker ZnO shells lead to higher rate of photocatalytic activity. Hybrid nanospheres recovered using an external magnetic field demonstrated good repeatability of photocatalytic activity. These results promise the reusability of the hybrid nanospheres for photocatalytic activity. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Synthesis of novel hybrid magnetic-ZnO core-shell composite nanospheres. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer High photocatalytic activity of hybrid nanospheres was noted as compared to that of pure ZnO nanoparticles. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The hybrid nanospheres could be easily retrieved using an external magnet for repeated use. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Repeated use of hybrid nanospheres did not show any degradation in the photocatalytic activity. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The photocatalysis rate was observed to be ZnO shell thickness dependent.

Controlled Synthesis of CuS/TiO2 Heterostructured Nanocomposites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation through Water Splitting.

Science.gov (United States)

Chandra, Moumita; Bhunia, Kousik; Pradhan, Debabrata

2018-04-16

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2 ) generation through water splitting has attracted substantial attention as a clean and renewable energy generation process that has enormous potential in converting solar-to-chemical energy using suitable photocatalysts. The major bottleneck in the development of semiconductor-based photocatalysts lies in poor light absorption and fast recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Herein we report the synthesis of CuS/TiO 2 heterostructured nanocomposites with varied TiO 2 contents via simple hydrothermal and solution-based process. The morphology, crystal structure, composition, and optical properties of the as-synthesized CuS/TiO 2 hybrids are evaluated in detail. Controlling the CuS/TiO 2 ratio to an optimum value leads to the highest photocatalytic H 2 production rate of 1262 μmol h -1 g -1 , which is 9.7 and 9.3 times higher than that of pristine TiO 2 nanospindles and CuS nanoflakes under irradiation, respectively. The enhancement in the H 2 evolution rate is attributed to increased light absorption and efficient charge separation with an optimum CuS coverage on TiO 2 . The photoluminescence and photoelectrochemical measurements further confirm the efficient separation of charge carriers in the CuS/TiO 2 hybrid. The mechanism and synergistic role of CuS and TiO 2 semiconductors for enhanced photoactivity is further delineated.

Hierarchical nanostructures assembled from ultrathin Bi2WO6 nanoflakes and their visible-light induced photocatalytic property

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang, Xiong; Tian, Peng; Lin, Ying; Li, Li

2015-01-01

Graphical abstract: Hierarchical Bi 2 WO 6 nanostructures assembled from nanoflakes were successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The excellent photocatalytic activity and recycling performance might be mainly ascribed to the unique hierarchical nanostructures and are expected to offer the nanostructures promising applications in the field of wastewater treatment. - Highlights: • Hierarchical Bi 2 WO 6 nanostructures assembled from nanoflakes were successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. • Visible-light-induced photocatalytic efficiency of the obtained nanoarchitectures was enhanced about 6 times. • A possible mechanism was proposed. - Abstract: With the aid of ethylene glycol and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, the hierarchical Bi 2 WO 6 nanoarchitectures assembled from nanoflakes could be attained by a facile solvothermal method. The synthetic strategy is versatile and environmentally friendly and a plausible growth-assembly process was proposed for the formation of the hierarchical nanostructures. The visible-light-irradiated photocatalytic activity was estimated by the degradation of rhodamine B. Compared with the sample prepared by a solid-state reaction, the visible-light-induced photocatalytic efficiency of the nanostructures was enhanced about 6 times. The photocatalysis tests show that the nanostructures exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity and recycling performance, which were mainly ascribed to the unique hierarchical nanostructures and are expected to offer promising applications in the field of wastewater treatment

Synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 in aqueous alcoholic medium and evaluation of its photocatalytic activity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kumaresan, L.; Prabhu, A.; Palanichamy, M.; Murugesan, V.

2011-01-01

Research highlights: → Mesoporous TiO 2 synthesized using P123 as soft template in sol-gel method. → Nanoparticle aggregates are better for photocatalytic activity than free nanoparticles. → Particle to particle transport of electrons in the conduction band of aggregates are important factor. - Abstract: Mesoporous TiO 2 was synthesized using triblock copolymer as the structure directing template in ethanol/water, isopropanol/water or 1-butanol/water medium by sol-gel method. The presence of intense peak at low angle in the XRD patterns confirmed the orderly arrangement of mesopores in the material. Among the three different alcohols, ethanol had influenced better in controlling the particle size than others. The enhanced specific surface area also revealed the formation of mesopores. Aggregates of particles were clearly seen in the TEM images and the size of the particles was approximately 10 nm. The photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO 2 was evaluated using aqueous alachlor as a model pollutant. The activity of mesoporous TiO 2 synthesized in ethanol/water mole ratio of 50 was higher than other mesoporous TiO 2 and commercial TiO 2 (Degussa P-25). The transport of excited electrons from one particle to its neighboring nanoparticles of mesoporous TiO 2 is suggested to be the cause for enhanced photocatalytic activity.

Ozone-UV-catalysis based advanced oxidation process for wastewater treatment.

Science.gov (United States)

Tichonovas, Martynas; Krugly, Edvinas; Jankunaite, Dalia; Racys, Viktoras; Martuzevicius, Dainius

2017-07-01

A bench-scale advanced oxidation (AO) reactor was investigated for the degradation of six pollutants (2-naphthol, phenol, oxalic acid, phthalate, methylene blue, and D-glucose) in a model wastewater at with the aim to test opportunities for the further upscale to industrial applications. Six experimental conditions were designed to completely examine the experimental reactor, including photolysis, photocatalysis, ozonation, photolytic ozonation, catalytic ozonation, and photocatalytic ozonation. The stationary catalyst construction was made from commercially available TiO 2 nanopowder by mounting it on a glass support and subsequently characterized for morphology (X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy) as well as durability. The ozone was generated in a dielectrical barrier discharge reactor using air as a source of oxygen. The degradation efficiency was estimated by the decrease in total organic carbon (TOC) concentration as well as toxicity using Daphnia magna, and degradation by-products by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The photocatalytic ozonation was the most effective for the treatment of all model wastewater. The photocatalytic ozonation was most effective against ozonation and photolytic ozonation at tested pH values. A complete toxicity loss was obtained after the treatment using photocatalytic ozonation. The possible degradation pathway of the phthalate by oxidation was suggested based on aromatic ring opening reactions. The catalyst used at this experiment confirmed as a durable for continuous use with almost no loss of activity over time. The design of the reactor was found to be very effective for water treatment using photocatalytic ozonation. Such design has a high potential and can be further upscaled to industrial applications due to the simplicity and versatility of manufacturing and maintenance.

Photocatalytic materials and technologies for air purification.

Science.gov (United States)

Ren, Hangjuan; Koshy, Pramod; Chen, Wen-Fan; Qi, Shaohua; Sorrell, Charles Christopher

2017-03-05

Since there is increasing concern for the impact of air quality on human health, the present work surveys the materials and technologies for air purification using photocatalytic materials. The coverage includes (1) current photocatalytic materials for the decomposition of chemical contaminants and disinfection of pathogens present in air and (2) photocatalytic air purification systems that are used currently and under development. The present work focuses on five main themes. First, the mechanisms of photodegradation and photodisinfection are explained. Second, system designs for photocatalytic air purification are surveyed. Third, the photocatalytic materials used for air purification and their characteristics are considered, including both conventional and more recently developed photocatalysts. Fourth, the methods used to fabricate these materials are discussed. Fifth, the most significant coverage is devoted to materials design strategies aimed at improving the performance of photocatalysts for air purification. The review concludes with a brief consideration of promising future directions for materials research in photocatalysis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Photocatalytic enhancement of cesium removal by Prussian blue-deposited TiO2.

Science.gov (United States)

Kim, Hyuncheol; Kim, Minsun; Kim, Wooyul; Lee, Wanno; Kim, Soonhyun

2018-06-19

After the Fukushima nuclear accident, tremendous efforts were made to treat radiocesium, radiostrontium, and other radioactive materials. For the first time, we demonstrate that a TiO 2 photocatalyst can significantly enhance Cs adsorption by Prussian blue-deposited TiO 2 (PB/TiO 2 ) under UV irradiation. In this study, we synthesized PB/TiO 2 using the photodeposition method. After the Cs ions were adsorbed on the PB/TiO 2 in darkness, we then exposed the PB/TiO 2 to UV light irradiation. This resulted in a further increase in Cs ion adsorption of more than 10 times the amount adsorbed in darkness. This photocatalytic-enhanced adsorption of Cs ions was not observed on PB mixed with SiO 2 , nor under visible light irradiation. We investigated the effects of PB concentration, PB/TiO 2 concentration, and gas purging on both dark and photocatalytic-enhanced adsorption of Cs ions by PB/TiO 2 . Based on the results, we suggest that the photocatalytic-enhanced adsorption of Cs ions on PB/TiO 2 is due to photocatalytic reduction of PB, which leads to additional adsorption of Cs ions. The change in solution color before and after the reaction, and the change in solution pH in the dark and during UV irradiation strongly support this suggestion. The photocatalytic-enhanced adsorption of Cs ions was equivalent during radioactive 137 Cs removal, indicating important applications for pollutant removal from contaminated water. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The improvement of photocatalytic processes: Design of a photoreactor using high-power LEDs

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Marzieh Khademalrasool

2016-09-01

Full Text Available This paper is an attempt to survey the benefits of a well-designed photoreactor containing just 6 ultraviolet (UV high power light emitting diodes (HPLEDs; the power and wavelength of each UV HPLED are 1 W and 365 nm, respectively, the latter being an efficient source for photocatalytic studies. Although the experiment with the 365-nm LEDs is reported here, other LEDs were predicted for conducting similar experiments including green photocatalytic ones. We installed diodes with respect to the luminescence intensity distribution curves (LIDCs or intensity patterns. Then, in order to compare the efficiency of the UV-HPLEDs of the HP-LED photoreactor (HPLED-PhR with that of traditional UV lamps which are extensively used in photocatalytic processes, a set of UV HPLEDs was designed and made up. Next, the performance of HPLED-PhR was compared with that of a traditional fluorescent lamp photoreactor (FL-PhR. As a typical photocatalytic experiment, Zinc Oxide (ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via co-precipitation method and used as photocatalyst for purification of water polluted with the reactive blue dye (RB, under UV irradiation in two photoreactors. The results showed that the rate of photocatalytic reaction under the UV-LEDs was two times greater than the rate under the traditional fluorescent UV lamps, while both electrical power consumption and manufacturing cost of the HPLED-PhR were less than a quarter of them for the FL-PhR.

Water Supply Treatment Sustainability of Panching Water Supply Treatment Process - Water Footprint Approach

Science.gov (United States)

Aziz, Edriyana A.; Malek, Marlinda Abdul; Moni, Syazwan N.; Zulkifli, Nabil F.; Hadi, Iqmal H.

2018-03-01

In many parts of the world, freshwater is scarce and overexploited. The purpose of this study is to determine the water footprint of Water Supply Treatment Process (WSTP) at Panching Water Treatment Plant (WTP) as well as to identify the sustainability of the Sg. Kuantan as an intake resource due to the effect of land use development. The total water footprint (WF) will be calculated by using WF accounting manual. The results obtained shows that the water intake resource is still available but it is believed that it will not be able to cope with the increasing WF. The increment of water demand percentage by 1.8% from 2015 to 2016 has increased 11 times higher of the water footprint percentage, 19.9%. This result shows that the water consumption during the water supply treatment process is two times higher than the demand thus it shows the inefficient of the water management

Tungsten carbide nanoparticles as efficient cocatalysts for photocatalytic overall water splitting

KAUST Repository

Garcia Esparza, Angel T.

2012-12-17

Tungsten carbide exhibits platinum-like behavior, which makes it an interesting potential substitute for noble metals in catalytic applications. Tungsten carbide nanocrystals (≈5 nm) are directly synthesized through the reaction of tungsten precursors with mesoporous graphitic C3N 4 (mpg-C3N4) as the reactive template in a flow of inert gas at high temperatures. Systematic experiments that vary the precursor compositions and temperatures used in the synthesis selectively generate different compositions and structures for the final nanocarbide (W 2C or WC) products. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the WC phase with a high surface area exhibits both high activity and stability in hydrogen evolution over a wide pH range. The WC sample also shows excellent hydrogen oxidation activity, whereas its activity in oxygen reduction is poor. These tungsten carbides are successful cocatalysts for overall water splitting and give H2 and O2 in a stoichiometric ratio from H 2O decomposition when supported on a Na-doped SrTiO3 photocatalyst. Herein, we present tungsten carbide (on a small scale) as a promising and durable catalyst substitute for platinum and other scarce noble-metal catalysts in catalytic reaction systems used for renewable energy generation. Platinum replacement: The phase-controlled synthesis of tungsten carbide nanoparticles from the nanoconfinement of a mesoporous graphite C 3N4 (mpg-C3N4) reactive template is shown. The nanomaterials catalyze hydrogen evolution/oxidation reactions, but are inactive in the oxygen reduction reaction. Tungsten carbide is an effective cocatalyst for photocatalytic overall water splitting (see picture). Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Tungsten carbide nanoparticles as efficient cocatalysts for photocatalytic overall water splitting

KAUST Repository

Garcia Esparza, Angel T.; Cha, Dong Kyu; Ou, Yiwei; Kubota, Jun; Domen, Kazunari; Takanabe, Kazuhiro

2012-01-01

Tungsten carbide exhibits platinum-like behavior, which makes it an interesting potential substitute for noble metals in catalytic applications. Tungsten carbide nanocrystals (≈5 nm) are directly synthesized through the reaction of tungsten precursors with mesoporous graphitic C3N 4 (mpg-C3N4) as the reactive template in a flow of inert gas at high temperatures. Systematic experiments that vary the precursor compositions and temperatures used in the synthesis selectively generate different compositions and structures for the final nanocarbide (W 2C or WC) products. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the WC phase with a high surface area exhibits both high activity and stability in hydrogen evolution over a wide pH range. The WC sample also shows excellent hydrogen oxidation activity, whereas its activity in oxygen reduction is poor. These tungsten carbides are successful cocatalysts for overall water splitting and give H2 and O2 in a stoichiometric ratio from H 2O decomposition when supported on a Na-doped SrTiO3 photocatalyst. Herein, we present tungsten carbide (on a small scale) as a promising and durable catalyst substitute for platinum and other scarce noble-metal catalysts in catalytic reaction systems used for renewable energy generation. Platinum replacement: The phase-controlled synthesis of tungsten carbide nanoparticles from the nanoconfinement of a mesoporous graphite C 3N4 (mpg-C3N4) reactive template is shown. The nanomaterials catalyze hydrogen evolution/oxidation reactions, but are inactive in the oxygen reduction reaction. Tungsten carbide is an effective cocatalyst for photocatalytic overall water splitting (see picture). Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Fabrication of the heterostructured CsTaWO{sub 6}/Au/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} hybrid photocatalyst with enhanced performance of photocatalytic hydrogen production from water

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lang, Junyu; Liu, Mengqing; Su, Yiguo; Yan, Lijuan; Wang, Xiaojing, E-mail: wang_xiao_jing@hotmail.com

2015-12-15

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • A novel ternary CsTaWO{sub 6}/Au/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} hybrid photocatalyst was successfully fabricated. • Au particles act as an electron-conduction bridge between the heterostructure. • The photoctalytic hydrogen generation was promoted by the SPR of the Au. • CsTaWO{sub 6}/Au/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} shows significant photocatalytic activity in H{sub 2} generation. - Abstract: In this work, a novel CsTaWO{sub 6}/Au/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} hybrid photocatalyst is successfully fabricated. The photocatalytic performance of the heterostructured CsTaWO{sub 6}/Au/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} composite was investigated. Au nanoparticles were photo-deposited as the interlayer between g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} and the surface of CsTaWO{sub 6}, which can facilitate the photoinduced electrons migration as an electron-conduction bridge as well as increase visible-light absorption via the surface plasmon resonance. This heterostructured interface bridging by Au particles may significantly retard the recombination of electron–holes, which is beneficial to promote the photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation. It is found the CsTaWO{sub 6}/Au/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} sample showed excellent photocatalytic activity of water splitting, even higher than the sum of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} and Au/CsTaWO{sub 6} samples, or the sum of CsTaWO{sub 6} and Au/g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} samples. It indicates that the heterostructured combination of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} and CsTaWO{sub 6} bridging by Au particles provided the synergistic photocatalytic activity driving by solar light through an efficient electron transfer process.

A facile fabrication of nitrogen-doped electrospun In2O3 nanofibers with improved visible-light photocatalytic activity

Science.gov (United States)

Lu, Na; Shao, Changlu; Li, Xinghua; Miao, Fujun; Wang, Kexin; Liu, Yichun

2017-01-01

Semiconductor photocatalysis demonstrates to be an effective approach for eliminating most types of environment contaminants and for producing hydrogen. Herein, a facile synthesis route combining electrospinning technique and thermal treatment method under NH3 atmosphere has been presented as a straightforward protocol for the fabrication of nitrogen-doped In2O3 (N-In2O3) nanofibers, the nitrogen content of which can be well controlled by adjusting the annealing temperature. Photocatalytic tests show that the N-In2O3 nanofibers demonstrate an improved degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RB) compared with pure In2O3 nanofibers under visible-light irradiation. This can be attributed to the nitrogen atom introducing at interstitial sites as well as the generation of oxygen vacancy on the surface of In2O3 nanofibers, resulting in the enhanced utilization of visible light for the N-In2O3 nanofibers. Furthermore, the obtained N-In2O3 nanofibers with the advantage of ultra-long one-dimensional nanostructures can be recycled several times by facile sedimentation and hence present almost no decrease in photocatalytic activity indicative of a well regeneration capability. Therefore, the as-fabricated nitrogen-doped In2O3 nanofibers as a promising photocatalyst present good photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant in waste water for practical application.

A potential photocatalytic, antimicrobial and anticancer activity of chitosan-copper nanocomposite.

Science.gov (United States)

Arjunan, Nithya; Singaravelu, Chandra Mohan; Kulanthaivel, Jeganathan; Kandasamy, Jothivenkatachalam

2017-11-01

In this study, chitosan-copper (CS-Cu) nanocomposite was synthesized without the aid of any external chemical reducing agents. The optical, structural, spectral, thermal and morphological analyses were carried out by several techniques. The prepared nanocomposite acts as a photocatalyst for the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Conge red (CR) dyes under visible light irradiation. The pseudo first order kinetics was derived according to Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model. The nanocomposite also proved to be an excellent antimicrobial agent against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; and also show activity against fungus. The advanced material was used for the major research areas which include photocatalytic materials for waste water treatment; biological applications in the development of drug resistant antimicrobials and anticancer agents. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Activation of glassy carbon electrodes by photocatalytic pretreatment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Dumanli, Onur [Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Art, Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit, 55139 Samsun (Turkey); Onar, A. Nur [Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Art, Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit, 55139 Samsun (Turkey)], E-mail: nonar@omu.edu.tr

2009-11-01

This paper describes a simple and rapid photocatalytic pretreatment procedure that removes contaminants from glassy carbon (GC) surfaces. The effectiveness of TiO{sub 2} mediated photocatalytic pretreatment procedure was compared to commonly used alumina polishing procedure. Cyclic voltammetric and chronocoulometric measurements were carried out to assess the changes in electrode reactivity by using four redox systems. Electrochemical measurements obtained on photocatalytically treated GC electrodes showed a more active surface relative to polished GC. In cyclic voltammograms of epinephrine, Fe(CN){sub 6}{sup 3-/4-} and ferrocene redox systems, higher oxidation and reduction currents were observed. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (k{sup o}) were calculated for Fe(CN){sub 6}{sup 3-/4-} and ferrocene which were greater for photocatalytic pretreatment. Chronocoulometry was performed in order to find the amount of adsorbed methylene blue onto the electrode and was calculated as 0.34 pmol cm{sup -2} for photocatalytically pretreated GC. The proposed photocatalytic GC electrode cleansing and activating pretreatment procedure was more effective than classical alumina polishing.

Photocatalytic H{sub 2} production from water splitting under visible light irradiation using Eosin Y-sensitized mesoporous-assembled Pt/TiO{sub 2} nanocrystal photocatalyst

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sreethawong, Thammanoon; Chavadej, Sumaeth [The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Soi Chula 12, Phyathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 (Thailand); Center for Petroleum, Petrochemicals, and Advanced Materials, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330 (Thailand); Junbua, Chompoonuch [The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Soi Chula 12, Phyathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 (Thailand)

2009-05-15

Sensitized photocatalytic production of hydrogen from water splitting is investigated under visible light irradiation over mesoporous-assembled titanium dioxide (TiO{sub 2}) nanocrystal photocatalysts, without and with Pt loading. The photocatalysts are synthesized by a sol-gel process with the aid of a structure-directing surfactant and are characterized by N{sub 2} adsorption-desorption analysis, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The dependence of hydrogen production on the type of TiO{sub 2} photocatalyst (synthesized mesoporous-assembled and commercial non-mesoporous-assembled TiO{sub 2} without and with Pt loading), the calcination temperature of the synthesized photocatalyst, the sensitizer (Eosin Y) concentration, the electron donor (diethanolamine) concentration, the photocatalyst dosage and the initial solution pH is systematically studied. The results show that in the presence of the Eosin Y sensitizer, the Pt-loaded mesoporous-assembled TiO{sub 2} synthesized by a single-step sol-gel process and calcined at 500 C exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production from a 30 vol.% diethanolamine aqueous solution with dissolved 2 mM Eosin Y. Moreover, the optimum photocatalyst dosage and initial solution pH for the maximum photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production are 3.33 g dm{sup -3} and 11.5, respectively. (author)

Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet for photocatalytic hydrogen production: The impact of morphology and element composition

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang, Zhao; Zhang, Yijie; Lu, Luhua; Si, Yanjie; Zhang, Si; Chen, Ying; Dai, Kai; Duan, Ping; Duan, Limei; Liu, Jinghai

2017-01-01

Highlights: • g-C_3N_4 with tunable morphology was prepared by varying pyrolysis time. • g-C_3N_4 showed reduced recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. • g-C_3N_4 showed enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. - Abstract: The intrinsic morphology and basal plane defects on g-C_3N_4 nanosheet have important influences on its electronic structures and photocatalytic activity. In this work, we report extending thermal treatment time of g-C_3N_4 at 550 °C not only change the morphology of g-C_3N_4 but also element composition of g-C_3N_4. The morphology variation results in largely increased SSA from 40.22 to 117.27 m"2 g"−"1, obviously reduced pore size from 3.99 to 2.77 nm for g-C_3N_4 and formation of in-plane holes. Moreover, composition variation of g-C_3N_4 has also been found to have changed as the pyrolysis time extended. These changes have significant impact on the optical properties and photoelectrical characters of g-C_3N_4, which were investigated by UV-DSR, PL and Photocurrent measurement. The photocatalytic activity of g-C_3N_4 obtained via 9 h thermal treatment at 550 °C has shown highest photocatalytic activity, which is 1.77 times than that of g-C_3N_4 obtained via 3 h thermal treatment under visible irradiation and 1.99 times under UV irradiation respectively.

Reduced graphene oxide-CdS nanocomposite with enhanced photocatalytic 4-Nitrophenol degradation

Science.gov (United States)

Chakraborty, Koushik; Ibrahim, Sk; Das, Poulomi; Ghosh, Surajit; Pal, Tanusri

2017-05-01

We report the photocatalytic activity of reduced graphene oxide cadmium sulfide (RGO-CdS) composite towards the degradation of 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) under simulated solar light illumination. The solution processable RGO-CdS composite was synthesized by one pot single step low cost solvothermal process, where the reduction of graphene oxide (GO), synthesis and attachment of CdS onto RGO sheets were done simultaneously. The structural and morphological characterization of the RGO-CdS composite and the reduction of GO was confirmed by X-ray diffractometry, TEM imaging and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy respectively. The photocatalytic efficiency of RGO-CdS composite is 2.6 times higher in compare to controlled CdS. In RGO-CdS composite the photo induced electrons transfer from CdS nanorod to RGO sheets, which reduces the recombination probability of photo generated electron-hole in the CdS. These well separated photoinduced charges enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the RGO-CdS composite. Our study establishes the RGO-CdS composite as a potential photocatalyst for the degradation of organic water pollutant.

Sonochemical synthesis of Dy-doped ZnO nanostructures and their photocatalytic properties

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yayapao, Oranuch [Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 (Thailand); Thongtem, Titipun, E-mail: ttpthongtem@yahoo.com [Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 (Thailand); Materials Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 (Thailand); Phuruangrat, Anukorn, E-mail: phuruangrat@hotmail.com [Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112 (Thailand); Thongtem, Somchai [Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 (Thailand); Materials Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 (Thailand)

2013-11-05

Highlights: •Undoped and Dy-doped ZnO used as photocatalysts. •They were synthesized by sonochemistry. •The promising materials for treatment of organic pollutants. -- Abstract: Dy-doped ZnO nanostructures were synthesized by a sonochemical method. The concentration effect of Dy on their phase, morphology, optical properties and photocatalytic activities was investigated. XRD patterns indicated that the as-synthesized 0–3% Dy-doped ZnO was hexagonal wurtzite structure. SEM and TEM show that the products were nanorods with their growth direction along the c axis. The photoluminescence spectrum of 3% Dy-doped ZnO, applied by Gaussian analysis, consists of three emission peaks at 376 nm, 448 nm and 487 nm. The photocatalytic activities of the as-synthesized products were determined from the degradation of methylene blue (C{sub 16}H{sub 18}N{sub 3}SCl) by UV radiation. In this research, the 3% Dy-doped ZnO showed the highest photocatalytic activity.

Sonochemical synthesis of Dy-doped ZnO nanostructures and their photocatalytic properties

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yayapao, Oranuch; Thongtem, Titipun; Phuruangrat, Anukorn; Thongtem, Somchai

2013-01-01

Highlights: •Undoped and Dy-doped ZnO used as photocatalysts. •They were synthesized by sonochemistry. •The promising materials for treatment of organic pollutants. -- Abstract: Dy-doped ZnO nanostructures were synthesized by a sonochemical method. The concentration effect of Dy on their phase, morphology, optical properties and photocatalytic activities was investigated. XRD patterns indicated that the as-synthesized 0–3% Dy-doped ZnO was hexagonal wurtzite structure. SEM and TEM show that the products were nanorods with their growth direction along the c axis. The photoluminescence spectrum of 3% Dy-doped ZnO, applied by Gaussian analysis, consists of three emission peaks at 376 nm, 448 nm and 487 nm. The photocatalytic activities of the as-synthesized products were determined from the degradation of methylene blue (C 16 H 18 N 3 SCl) by UV radiation. In this research, the 3% Dy-doped ZnO showed the highest photocatalytic activity

Photocatalytic Degradation Effect of μ-Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Treated Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Environmental Contaminant.

Science.gov (United States)

Seo, Hyeon Jin; Hwang, Ki-Hwan; Na, Young Hoon; Boo, Jin-Hyo

2018-09-01

This study focused on the photocatalytic degradation effect of the μ-dielectric barrier discharge (μ-DBD) plasma treated titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on environmental contaminant such as formaldehyde. TiO2 nanoparticles were treated by a μ-DBD plasma source with nitrogen gas. We analyzed the degradation of formaldehyde with the plasma treated TiO2 nanoparticles by UV-visible spectrophotometer (UV-VIS), and demonstrated that the photocatalytic activity of the μ-DBD plasma-treated TiO2 nanoparticles showed significantly high catalytic efficiency rather than without plasma treated TiO2 nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopes (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and water contact angle analyzer were used to measure the effects of photocatalytic degradation for the plasma treated TiO2 nanoparticles.

Unbiased Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation from Pure Water on Stable Ir-treated In 0.33 Ga 0.67 N Nanorods

KAUST Repository

Ebaid, Mohamed; Priante, Davide; Liu, Guangyu; Zhao, Chao; Sharizal Alias, Mohd; Buttner, Ulrich; Khee Ng, Tien; Taylor Isimjan, Tayirjan; Idriss, Hicham; Ooi, Boon S.

2017-01-01

InGaN-based nanostructures have recently been recognized as promising materials for efficient solar hydrogen generation. This is due to their chemical stability, adjustable optoelectronic properties, suitable band edge alignment, and large surface-to-volume ratio. The inherent high density of surface trapping states and the lack of compatible conductive substrates, however, hindered their use as stable photo-catalysts. We have designed, synthesized and tested an efficient photocatalytic system using stable In0.33Ga0.67N-based nanorods (NRs) grown on an all-metal stack substrate (Ti-Mo) for a better electron transfer process. In addition, we have applied a bifunctional ultrathin thiol-based organic surface treatment using 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT), in which sulfur atoms protected the surface from oxidation. This treatment has dual functions, it passivates the surface (by the removal of dangling bonds) and creates ligands for linking Ir-metal ions as oxygen evolution centers on top of the semiconductor. This treatment when applied to In0.33Ga0.67N NRs resulted in a photo-catalyst that achieved 3.5% solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency, in pure water (pH~7, buffer solution) under simulated one-sun (AM1.5G) illumination and without electrical bias. Over the tested period, a steady increase of the gas evolution rate was observed from which a turnover frequency of 0.23s-1 was calculated. The novel growth of InGaN-based NRs on a metal as well as the versatile surface functionalization techniques (EDT-Ir) have a high potential for making stable photo-catalysts with adjustable band gaps and band edges to harvest sun light.

Unbiased Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation from Pure Water on Stable Ir-treated In 0.33 Ga 0.67 N Nanorods

KAUST Repository

Ebaid, Mohamed

2017-05-11

InGaN-based nanostructures have recently been recognized as promising materials for efficient solar hydrogen generation. This is due to their chemical stability, adjustable optoelectronic properties, suitable band edge alignment, and large surface-to-volume ratio. The inherent high density of surface trapping states and the lack of compatible conductive substrates, however, hindered their use as stable photo-catalysts. We have designed, synthesized and tested an efficient photocatalytic system using stable In0.33Ga0.67N-based nanorods (NRs) grown on an all-metal stack substrate (Ti-Mo) for a better electron transfer process. In addition, we have applied a bifunctional ultrathin thiol-based organic surface treatment using 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT), in which sulfur atoms protected the surface from oxidation. This treatment has dual functions, it passivates the surface (by the removal of dangling bonds) and creates ligands for linking Ir-metal ions as oxygen evolution centers on top of the semiconductor. This treatment when applied to In0.33Ga0.67N NRs resulted in a photo-catalyst that achieved 3.5% solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency, in pure water (pH~7, buffer solution) under simulated one-sun (AM1.5G) illumination and without electrical bias. Over the tested period, a steady increase of the gas evolution rate was observed from which a turnover frequency of 0.23s-1 was calculated. The novel growth of InGaN-based NRs on a metal as well as the versatile surface functionalization techniques (EDT-Ir) have a high potential for making stable photo-catalysts with adjustable band gaps and band edges to harvest sun light.

Photodegradation of Acid Black 1 and Removing Heavy Metals from the Water by an Inorganic Nanocomposite Synthesized via Simple Co-Precipitation Method

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Marziyeh Mohammadi

2016-07-01

Full Text Available In this experimental work, PbS/ZnS/ZnO nanocomposite was synthesized via a simple co-precipitation method. The effect of Zn2+/Pb2+ mole ratio was investigated on the product size and morphology. The products were characterized via scanning electron microscopy to obtain product size and morphology. The optical properties of the nanocomposites were studied by ultra violet-visible spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity of the product was examine by decomposition of acid black 1 as dye. To investigation of the effect of as synthesized nanocomposite on the water treatment, the influences of the nanocomposite to remove heavy ions was studied by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the synthesized nanocomposite has well optical properties, photocatalytic and water treatment activities.

The Influence of Surface Alumina and Silica on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Terry A. Egerton

2013-03-01

Full Text Available Practical photocatalysis for degradation of organic pollutants must take into account the influence of other chemicals. Significant Al deposition on titania can occur at naturally occurring concentrations of dissolved Al. This paper reviews the author’s work on the influence of deliberately deposited hydrous oxides of aluminium on the behavior of a ~130 m2 g−1 rutile TiO2, and then compares the behavior of deposited alumina with that of deposited silica. On rutile some adsorbed nitrogen is infrared-active. Alumina and silica deposited on the rutile reduce, and ultimately eliminate, this infrared-active species. They also reduce photocatalytic oxidation of both propan-2-ol and dichloroacetate ion and the photocatalytic reduction of diphenyl picryl hydrazine. The surface oxides suppress charge transfer and may also reduce reactant adsorption. Quantitative measurement of TiO2 photogreying shows that the adsorbed inorganics also reduce photogreying, attributed to the capture of photogenerated conduction band electrons by Ti4+ to form Ti3+. The influence of adsorbed phosphate on photocatalysis is briefly considered, since phosphate reduces photocatalytic disinfection. In the context of classical colloid studies, it is concluded that inorganic species in water can significantly reduce photoactivity from the levels that measured in pure water.

High efficient multifunctional Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} loaded hydroxyapatite nanowires for water treatment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Li, Yaling; Zhou, Hangyu; Zhu, Genxing [Center for Biomaterials and Biopathways, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou (China); Shao, Changyu; Pan, Haihua; Xu, Xurong [Center for Biomaterials and Biopathways, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou (China); Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University (China); Tang, Ruikang, E-mail: rtang@zju.edu.cn [Center for Biomaterials and Biopathways, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou (China); Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies, Zhejiang University (China)

2015-12-15

Highlights: • The multifunctional Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} loaded hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanowires were synthesized via a facile in-situ precipitation method. • By optimizing the initial concentration of AgNO{sub 3}, the well-distributed Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/HAP composites could be achieved. • The Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/HAP composites showed excellent photocatalytic performance for the decomposition of dyes under visible light irradiation. • The maximum absorption capacity of the Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/HAP composites for Pb(II) was 250 mg/g, approximately three times as that of pure HAP. • The Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/HAP composites also exhibited excellent antibacterial activities even at relative low concentrations. - Abstract: Organic, inorganic, and biological pollutants are typical water contaminants and they seriously affect water quality. In this study, we suggested that a novel multifunctional Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} loaded hydroxyapatite (HAP) material can remove the typical pollutants from water. The Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/HAP composites were synthesized facilely via in-situ precipitation of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} on the pre-existing HAP nanowires. By optimizing the composition of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} and HAP, the material could achieve an optimal photocatalytic activity to decompose rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiations with enhanced pH stability. Besides, the adsorption of Pb(II) on the Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/HAP reached a maximum capacity of 250 mg/g and this value was approximately three times as that of pure HAP. Furthermore, the composite material exhibited excellent antibacterial activities towards gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) and gram-positive bacterium (Stphylococcus aureus). The results highlighted the cooperative effect between Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} and hydroxyapatite (HAP). The simultaneous removals of dyes, toxic metal ions, and bacteria with a high efficiency followed an easy approach for the purification

Rapid probing of photocatalytic activity on titania-based self-cleaning materials using 7-hydroxycoumarin fluorescent probe

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Guan Huimin; Zhu Lihua; Zhou Hehui; Tang Heqing

2008-01-01

Self-cleaning materials are widely applied, but the available methods for determining their photocatalytic activity are time consuming. A simple analysis method was proposed to evaluate rapidly the photocatalytic activity of self-cleaning materials. This method is based on monitoring of a highly fluorescent product generated by the self-cleaning materials after illumination. Under UV irradiation, holes photo-induced on the surface of self-cleaning materials can oxidize water molecules (or hydroxide ions) adsorbed on the surface to produce hydroxyl radicals, which then quantitatively oxidize coumarin to highly fluorescent 7-hydroxycoumarin. It was observed that the fluorescence intensity of photo-generated 7-hydroxycoumarin at 456 nm (excited at 346 nm) linearly increased with irradiation time, and the fluorescence intensity at a given irradiation time was linearly proportional to the photocatalytic activity of self-cleaning materials. Consequently, the photocatalytic activity of self-cleaning materials was able to be probed simply by using this new method, which requires an analysis time of 40 min, being much less than 250 min required for a dye method

Oxidation driven ZnS Core-ZnO shell photocatalysts under controlled oxygen atmosphere for improved photocatalytic solar water splitting

Science.gov (United States)

Bak, Daegil; Kim, Jung Hyeun

2018-06-01

Zinc type photocatalysts attract great attentions in solar hydrogen production due to their easy availability and benign environmental characteristics. Spherical ZnS particles are synthesized with a facile hydrothermal method, and they are further used as core materials to introduce ZnO shell layer surrounding the core part by partial oxidation under controlled oxygen contents. The resulting ZnS core-ZnO shell photocatalysts represent the heterostructural type II band alignment. The existence of oxide layer also influences on proton adsorption power with an aid of strong base cites derived from highly electronegative oxygen atoms in ZnO shell layer. Photocatalytic water splitting reaction is performed to evaluate catalyst efficiency under standard one sun condition, and the highest hydrogen evolution rate (1665 μmolg-1h-1) is achieved from the sample oxidized at 16.2 kPa oxygen pressure. This highest hydrogen production rate is achieved in cooperation with increased light absorption and promoted charge separations. Photoluminescence analysis reveals that the improved visible light response is obtained after thermal oxidation process due to the oxygen vacancy states in the ZnO shell layer. Therefore, overall photocatalytic efficiency in solar hydrogen production is enhanced by improved charge separations, crystallinity, and visible light responses from the ZnS core-ZnO shell structures induced by thermal oxidation.

Hierarchical synthesis of corrugated photocatalytic TiO{sub 2} microsphere architectures on natural pollen surfaces

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Erdogan, Deniz Altunoz; Ozensoy, Emrah, E-mail: ozensoy@fen.bilkent.edu.tr

2017-05-01

Highlights: • Biotemplate-based photocatalytic material was synthesized in the form of corrugated TiO{sub 2} microspheres. • Characterization of photocatalysts as a function of temperature. • Photocatalytic activities studied in the gas and solution phases. - Abstract: Biomaterials are challenging, yet vastly promising templates for engineering unusual inorganic materials with unprecedented surface and structural properties. In the current work, a novel biotemplate-based photocatalytic material was synthesized in the form of corrugated TiO{sub 2} microspheres by utilizing a sol-gel methodology where Ambrosia trifida (Ab, Giant ragweed) pollen was exploited as the initial biological support surface. Hierarchically synthesized TiO{sub 2} microspheres were structurally characterized in detail via SEM-EDX, Raman spectroscopy, XRD and BET techniques in order to shed light on the surface chemistry, crystal structure, chemical composition and morphology of these novel material architectures. Photocatalytic functionality of the synthesized materials was demonstrated both in gas phase as well as in liquid phase. Along these lines, air and water purification capabilities of the synthesized TiO{sub 2} microspheres were established by performing photocatalytic oxidative NOx(g) storage and Rhodamine B(aq) degradation experiments; respectively. The synthetic approach presented herein offers new opportunities to design and create sophisticated functional materials that can be used in micro reactor systems, adsorbents, drug delivery systems, catalytic processes, and sensor technologies.

Nano-/microstructure improved photocatalytic activities of semiconductors.

Science.gov (United States)

Zhao, Tianyi; Zhao, Yong; Jiang, Lei

2013-10-13

Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising technique owing to its valuable applications in environmental purification. With the demand of building effective photocatalyst materials, semiconductor investigation experienced a developing process from simple chemical modification to complicated morphology design. In this review, the general relationship between morphology structures and photocatalytic properties is mainly discussed. Various nano-/microsized structures from zero- to three-dimensional are discussed, and the photocatalytic efficiency correspon- ding to the structures is analysed. The results showed that simple structures can be easily obtained and can facilitate chemical modification, whereas one- or three-dimensional structures can provide structure-enhanced properties such as surface area increase, multiple reflections of UV light, etc. Those principles of structure-related photocatalytic properties will afford basic ideology in designing new photocatalytic materials with more effective catalytic properties.

Photocatalytic degradation and photo-Fenton oxidation of Congo red dye pollutants in water using natural chromite—response surface optimization

Science.gov (United States)

Shaban, Mohamed; Abukhadra, Mostafa R.; Ibrahim, Suzan S.; Shahien, Mohamed. G.

2017-12-01

Refined natural Fe-chromite was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, reflected polarized microscope, XRF and UV spectrophotometer. Photocatalytic degradation and photo-Fenton oxidation of Congo red dye by Fe-chromite was investigated using 1 mL H2O2. The degradation of dye was studied as a function of illumination time, chromite mass, initial dye concentration, and pH. Fe-chromite acts as binary oxide system from chromium oxide and ferrous oxide. Thus, it exhibits photocatalytic properties under UV illumination and photo-Fenton oxidation after addition of H2O2. The degradation in the presence of H2O2 reached the equilibrium stage after 8 h (59.4%) but in the absence of H2O2 continued to 12 h (54.6%). Photocatalytic degradation results fitted well with zero, first order and second order kinetic model but it represented by second order rather than by the other models. While the photo-Fenton oxidation show medium fitting with the second order kinetic model only. The values of kinetic rate constants for the photo-Fenton oxidation were greater than those for the photocatalytic degradation. Thus, degradation of Congo red dye using chromite as catalyst is more efficient by photo-Fenton oxidation. Based on the response surface analysis, the predicted optimal conditions for maximum removal of Congo red dye by photocatalytic degradation (100%) were 12 mg/l, 0.14 g, 3, and 11 h for dye concentration, chromite mass, pH, and illumination time, respectively. Moreover, the optimum condition for photo-Fenton oxidation of dye (100%) is 13.5 mg/l, 0.10 g, 4, and 10 h, respectively.

Fabrication of modified g-C3N4 nanorod/Ag3PO4 nanocomposites for solar-driven photocatalytic oxygen evolution from water splitting

Science.gov (United States)

Tian, Lin; Xian, Xiaozhai; Cui, Xingkai; Tang, Hua; Yang, Xiaofei

2018-02-01

Semiconductor-based photocatalysis has been considered as one of the most effective techniques to achieve the conversion of clean and sustainable sunlight to solar fuel, in which the construction of novel solar-driven photocatalytic systems is the key point. Here, we report initially the synthesis of modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanorods via the calcination of intermediates obtained from the co-polymerization of precursors, and the in-situ hybridization of Ag3PO4 with as-prepared modified g-C3N4 to produce g-C3N4 nanorod/Ag3PO4 composite materials. The diameter of modified rod-like g-C3N4 materials is determined to be around 1 μm. Subsequently the morphological features, crystal and chemical structures of the assembled g-C3N4 nanorod/Ag3PO4 composites were systematically investigated by SEM, XRD, XPS, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). Furthermore, the use of as-prepared composite materials as the catalyst for photocatalytic oxygen evolution from water splitting was studied. The oxygen-generating results showed that the composite photocatalyst modified with 600 mg rod-like g-C3N4 demonstrates 2.5 times higher efficiency than that of bulk Ag3PO4. The mechanism behind the enhancement in the oxygen-evolving activity is proposed on the basis of in-situ electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement as well as theoretical analysis. The study provides new insights into the design and development of new photocatalytic composite materials for energy and environmental applications.

The structure and the photocatalytic activity of titania based nanotube and nanofiber coatings

Science.gov (United States)

Radtke, A.; Piszczek, P.; Topolski, A.; Lewandowska, Ż.; Talik, E.; Andersen, I. Hald; Nielsen, L. Pleth; Heikkilä, M.; Leskelä, M.

2016-04-01

The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 based nanotube (TNT) and nanofiber (TNF) coatings has been investigated, in correlation to their structure, morphology, specific surface area, acidity and the amount of surface H2O molecules and sbnd OH groups. Characterization of these materials was carried out using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT). The photocatalytic activity has been quantified by two different methods, based on the photodegradation of methylene blue (the pattern of water-soluble organic pollutant) and acetone (the pattern of volatile organic pollutant), respectively. Results of our investigations revealed that TNF coatings were significantly more active in case of both photodegradation processes in air and water, as compared to TNT, even if the specific surface area of TNF films was smaller than the adequate surface area of TNT. The microstructure of produced materials, the amount of adsorbed sbnd OH groups and H2O molecules located on the surface of materials, and the acidity of the surface, were the main factors which affect their photoactivity. Photocatalytic properties of tubular and porous TiO2-based materials are the resultant of the compilation of individual factors impact and any of them cannot be neglected.

Water Treatment Group

Data.gov (United States)

Federal Laboratory Consortium — This team researches and designs desalination, water treatment, and wastewater treatment systems. These systems remediate water containing hazardous c hemicals and...

Photocatalytic degradation of the Paracetamol drug using Lanthanum doped ZnO nanoparticles and their in-vitro cytotoxicity assay

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Shakir, Mohammad; Faraz, Mohd; Sherwani, Mohd Asif; Al-Resayes, Saud I.

2016-01-01

The doping of semiconductor by rare earth metals nanoparticles is an effective way for increasing photocatalytic activity. Zinc oxide and Lanthanum doped Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by modifying the gel-combustion method. It was found that La can greatly enhance the cytotoxicity and photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles towards various cell lines and Paracetamol drug. These nanoparticles were characterized by various spectroscopic and other techniques which clearly revealed the presence of lanthanum ions. The absorption edge shifts towards the visible region after doping with La ions. This shift shows that the doping of La ions is favorable for absorbing the visible light. The comparative photocatalytic and cytotoxicity activity revealed that La doped ZnO nanoparticles remarkably enhanced activities as compared to the ZnO nanoparticles. The outcome of these studies offers valuable for planning La doped ZnO nanoparticles having cytotoxicity and photocatalytic activities helpful for the formulation of anticancer product and waste water remediation.

Photocatalytic degradation of the Paracetamol drug using Lanthanum doped ZnO nanoparticles and their in-vitro cytotoxicity assay

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Shakir, Mohammad, E-mail: shakir078@yahoo.com [Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002 (India); Faraz, Mohd [Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002 (India); Sherwani, Mohd Asif [Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002 (India); Al-Resayes, Saud I. [Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451 (Saudi Arabia)

2016-08-15

The doping of semiconductor by rare earth metals nanoparticles is an effective way for increasing photocatalytic activity. Zinc oxide and Lanthanum doped Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by modifying the gel-combustion method. It was found that La can greatly enhance the cytotoxicity and photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles towards various cell lines and Paracetamol drug. These nanoparticles were characterized by various spectroscopic and other techniques which clearly revealed the presence of lanthanum ions. The absorption edge shifts towards the visible region after doping with La ions. This shift shows that the doping of La ions is favorable for absorbing the visible light. The comparative photocatalytic and cytotoxicity activity revealed that La doped ZnO nanoparticles remarkably enhanced activities as compared to the ZnO nanoparticles. The outcome of these studies offers valuable for planning La doped ZnO nanoparticles having cytotoxicity and photocatalytic activities helpful for the formulation of anticancer product and waste water remediation.

Theoretical insight into the distinct photocatalytic activity between NiO{sub x} and CoO{sub x} loaded Ta{sub 3}N{sub 5} photocatalyst

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sun, Kenan; Li, Yuanyuan; Zhang, Qing [Institute of Environmental and Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004 (China); Wang, Li, E-mail: chemwangl@henu.edu.cn [Institute of Environmental and Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004 (China); Zhang, Jinglai, E-mail: zhangjinglai@henu.edu.cn [Institute of Environmental and Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004 (China); Zhou, Xin, E-mail: zhouxin@dlu.edu.cn [College of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Dalian University, Dalian, 116622 (China)

2017-05-31

Highlights: • Highly active photocatalytic Ta{sub 3}N{sub 5} loaded with CoO{sub x} and NiO{sub x}. • Exploring the stable structure and the electronic properties by DFT calculations. • Investigating the behavior of water adsorption on the surface of photocatalytic. - Abstract: Experiments found that cocatalysts play an important role in influencing the efficiency of photocatalysis and photoelectrochemical water splitting. However, how to choose proper cocatalysts in certain photocatalytic system is still a challenging question. In this work, the first-principles density functional theory is employed to explore two photocatalysts with different photocatalytic activity, CoO{sub x} and NiO{sub x} loaded Ta{sub 3}N{sub 5}, including finding the stable structure of metal oxide adsorbed surface, analyzing the electronic properties, and investigating the behavior of water adsorption. Our results indicate that the structural match between cluster and surface and less distortion of interfacial structure are benefit to the stability of the whole system. Water dissociation tends to occur at the interface between metal oxide cluster and Ta{sub 3}N{sub 5} surface. Combining observations in experiments with our calculated results, we propose that the obvious difference of photocatalytic activities in CoO{sub x}/Ta{sub 3}N{sub 5} and NiO{sub x}/Ta{sub 3}N{sub 5} is possibly related to whether there are impurity states located in the middle of band gap, which has adverse effect on the separation of photo-generated electrons and holes.

Selective Photocatalytic Disinfection by Coupling StrepMiniSog to the Antibody Catalyzed Water Oxidation Pathway.

Science.gov (United States)

Wurtzler, Elizabeth M; Wendell, David

2016-01-01

For several decades reactive oxygen species have been applied to water quality engineering and efficient disinfection strategies; however, these methods are limited by disinfection byproduct and catalyst-derived toxicity concerns which could be improved by selectively targeting contaminants of interest. Here we present a targeted photocatalytic system based on the fusion protein StrepMiniSOG that uses light within the visible spectrum to produce reactive oxygen species at a greater efficiency than current photosensitizers, allowing for shorter irradiation times from a fully biodegradable photocatalyst. The StrepMiniSOG photodisinfection system is unable to cross cell membranes and like other consumed proteins, can be degraded by endogenous digestive enzymes in the human gut, thereby reducing the consumption risks typically associated with other disinfection agents. We demonstrate specific, multi-log removal of Listeria monocytogenes from a mixed population of bacteria, establishing the StrepMiniSOG disinfection system as a valuable tool for targeted pathogen removal, while maintaining existing microbial biodiversity.

Selective Photocatalytic Disinfection by Coupling StrepMiniSog to the Antibody Catalyzed Water Oxidation Pathway.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Elizabeth M Wurtzler

Full Text Available For several decades reactive oxygen species have been applied to water quality engineering and efficient disinfection strategies; however, these methods are limited by disinfection byproduct and catalyst-derived toxicity concerns which could be improved by selectively targeting contaminants of interest. Here we present a targeted photocatalytic system based on the fusion protein StrepMiniSOG that uses light within the visible spectrum to produce reactive oxygen species at a greater efficiency than current photosensitizers, allowing for shorter irradiation times from a fully biodegradable photocatalyst. The StrepMiniSOG photodisinfection system is unable to cross cell membranes and like other consumed proteins, can be degraded by endogenous digestive enzymes in the human gut, thereby reducing the consumption risks typically associated with other disinfection agents. We demonstrate specific, multi-log removal of Listeria monocytogenes from a mixed population of bacteria, establishing the StrepMiniSOG disinfection system as a valuable tool for targeted pathogen removal, while maintaining existing microbial biodiversity.

Preparation high photocatalytic activity of CdS/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) nanocomposites with hydrothermal method

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Xing Weinan [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China); Ni Liang, E-mail: xingweinan3@126.com [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China); Huo Pengwei; Lu Ziyang; Liu Xinlin; Luo Yingying; Yan Yongsheng [School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013 (China)

2012-10-15

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer CdS/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The CdS/HNTs had better photocatalytic activity for degradation of tetracycline. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The presence of halloysite nanotubes both improved its photocatalytic activity and stability. - Abstract: A novel nanocatalyst CdS/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was synthesized by hydrothermal method with direct growth of CdS nanoparticles on the surface of HNTs. The as-prepared photocatalysts had been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and the thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The photocatalytic activity of the sample was evaluated by the degradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation. Benefit from the excellent properties of CdS and HNTs, the photocatalyst exhibited good photocatalytic activity and stability. In order to find out the optimum synthesis condition to obtain the best photocatalytic activity, a series of experiments were performed with different CdS loading capacity, different sources of sulfide and different hydrothermal temperatures, etc. The best photodegradation rate could reach 93% in 60 min under visible light irradiation. Therefore, the combination of CdS nanoparticles with HNTs endowed this material with a potential use in environmental treatments in industries.

Preparation high photocatalytic activity of CdS/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) nanocomposites with hydrothermal method

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Xing Weinan; Ni Liang; Huo Pengwei; Lu Ziyang; Liu Xinlin; Luo Yingying; Yan Yongsheng

2012-01-01

Highlights: ► CdS/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method. ► The CdS/HNTs had better photocatalytic activity for degradation of tetracycline. ► The presence of halloysite nanotubes both improved its photocatalytic activity and stability. - Abstract: A novel nanocatalyst CdS/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was synthesized by hydrothermal method with direct growth of CdS nanoparticles on the surface of HNTs. The as-prepared photocatalysts had been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–vis DRS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and the thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The photocatalytic activity of the sample was evaluated by the degradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation. Benefit from the excellent properties of CdS and HNTs, the photocatalyst exhibited good photocatalytic activity and stability. In order to find out the optimum synthesis condition to obtain the best photocatalytic activity, a series of experiments were performed with different CdS loading capacity, different sources of sulfide and different hydrothermal temperatures, etc. The best photodegradation rate could reach 93% in 60 min under visible light irradiation. Therefore, the combination of CdS nanoparticles with HNTs endowed this material with a potential use in environmental treatments in industries.

Non-noble metal Cu-loaded TiO2 for enhanced photocatalytic H2 production.

Science.gov (United States)

Foo, Wei Jian; Zhang, Chun; Ho, Ghim Wei

2013-01-21

Here we have demonstrated the preparation of high-quality, monodispersed and tunable phases of Cu nanoparticles. Structural and chemical composition studies depict the evolution of Cu-Cu(2)O-CuO nanoparticles at various process stages. The loading of Cu and Cu oxide nanoparticles on TiO(2) catalyst has enhanced the photocatalytic H(2) production. Comparatively, H(2) treatment produces well-dispersed Cu nanoparticles with thin oxide shells that show the highest H(2) production amongst the samples. The relatively higher photocatalytic performance is deemed to result from reduced structural defects, higher surface area and dispersivity as well as favorable charge transfer, which inhibits recombination. The Cu nanoparticles are shown to be a promising alternative to noble metal-loaded TiO(2) catalyst systems due to their low cost and high performance in photocatalytic applications.

Decomposition of water and production of H{sub 2} using semiconductor-photocatalytic effect induced by gamma ray from high radioactive waste

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wada, Y; Kawaguchi, K; Myouchin, M [Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corp., Tokai, Ibaraki (Japan). Tokai Works

1996-12-31

The technology of the radiolytic decomposition of water leading to hydrogen production was demonstrated to explore a new field in the utilization of radiation and radioactive elements. The technology used consisted of a photoassisted catalytic method which has been generally investigated for photocatalysis using a semiconductor and light in an electrochemical study. In our study, gamma radiation from Co-60 was used instead of light, and a significant amount of evolved hydrogen was detected. Our preliminary experiments proved the possibility of converting the energy ionizing radiation (gamma radiation) into chemical energy (hydrogen) using a semiconductor-photocatalytic effect. (author).

UV Photocatalytic Activity for Water Decomposition of SrxBa1−xNb2O6 Nanocrystals with Different Components and Morphologies

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Guoqiang Han

2017-01-01

Full Text Available Strontium barium niobate SrxBa1-xNb2O6 (SBN nanocrystals with different components (x=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 were synthesized by Molten Salt Synthesis (MSS method at various reaction temperatures (T = 950°C, 1000°C, 1050°C, and 1100°C. The SBN nanocrystals yielded through flux reactions possess different morphologies and sizes with a length of about ~100 nm~7 μm and a diameter of about ~200~500 nm. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM and X-ray Diffraction (XRD techniques were used to study the compositions, structures, and morphologies of the nanocrystals. The absorption edges of the SBN nanocrystals are at a wavelength region of approximate 390 nm, which corresponds to band-gap energy of ~3.18 eV. The SBN nanocrystals with different sizes display different photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet light in decomposition of water. The SBN60 nanocrystals exhibit stable photocatalytic rates (~100~130 μmol of H2·g−1·h−1 for hydrogen production. The SBN nanocrystals can be a potential material in the application of photocatalysis and micro/nanooptical devices.

Photocatalytic Activity of Nanostructured Titanium Dioxide Thin Films

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Zdenek Michalcik

2012-01-01

Full Text Available The aim of this paper is to investigate the properties and photocatalytic activity of nanostructured TiO2 layers. The glancing angle deposition method with DC sputtering at low temperature was applied for deposition of the layers with various columnar structures. The thin-film structure and surface morphology were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and AFM analyses. The photocatalytic activity of the films was determined by the rate constant of the decomposition of the Acid Orange 7. In dependence on the glancing angle deposition parameters, three types of columnar structures were obtained. The films feature anatase/rutile and/or amorphous structures depending on the film architecture and deposition method. All the films give the evidence of the photocatalytic activity, even those without proved anatase or rutile structure presence. The impact of columnar boundary in perspective of the photocatalytic activity of nanostructured TiO2 layers was discussed as the possible factor supporting the photocatalytic activity.

Photocatalytic degradation of Lissamine Green B dye by using nanostructured sol–gel TiO{sub 2} films

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ćurković, Lidija, E-mail: lcurkov@fsb.hr [Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lučića 5, 10000 Zagreb (Croatia); Ljubas, Davor [Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lučića 5, 10000 Zagreb (Croatia); Šegota, Suzana [Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb (Croatia); Bačić, Ivana [Forensic Science Centre Ivan Vučetić, Ministry of the Interior, Ilica 335, Zagreb (Croatia)

2014-08-01

Highlights: • Nanostructured photocatalytic TiO{sub 2} films were prepared by sol–gel methods. • The addition of PEG to the TiO{sub 2} film changes the surface morphology and roughness parameters. • The addition of PEG to the initial sols increases photocatalytic properties of TiO{sub 2}. • LGB water solution could be decolourised within 2 h. • The influence of photolysis and adsorption on the LGB removal from the solution is negligible. - Abstract: Nanostructured sol–gel TiO{sub 2} films were prepared on a glass substrate by means of the dip-coating technique with titanium tetraisopropoxide as a precursor. TiO{sub 2} sols were synthesized with and without the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a structure-directing agent. The synthesized sol–gel TiO{sub 2} were characterized by XRD, AFM, FTIR and Micro-Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the films was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of Lissamine Green B (LGB) dye (dissolved in water) as a model pollutant with the predominant irradiation wavelength of 365 nm (UV-A). It was found that the addition of PEG to the initial sol affects the surface morphology and the photocatalytic properties of prepared sol–gel TiO{sub 2} films. AFM analysis confirmed the presence of nanostructured sol–gel titania films on the glass substrate. Roughness parameters (R{sub a}, R{sub q}, and Z{sub max}) of the sol–gel TiO{sub 2} film with the addition of PEG are higher than the parameters of the sol–gel TiO{sub 2} film without the addition of PEG. The TiO{sub 2} film prepared with the addition of PEG has a higher surface density (a larger active surface area) and better photocatalytic activity in the degradation of the LGB dye solution than the TiO{sub 2} film prepared without the addition of PEG.

Effect of cold plasma pre-treatment on photocatalytic activity of 3D fabric loaded with nano-photocatalysts: Response surface methodology

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ghoreishian, Seyed Majid; Badii, Khashayar; Norouzi, Mohammad; Malek, Kaveh

2016-01-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • The potential of immobilized TiO_2 and ZnO nanophotocatalysts for the removal of reactive dye was investigated. • Optimum decolorization conditions have been determined. • The immobilized nanophotocatalysts decolorized azo dyes completely from a textile effluent within 60 min. • Photocatalytic decolorization rates obeyed the pseudo-first-order rate. - Abstract: In this study, the physico-chemical effects occasioned by the cold plasma discharge (CPD) on the photo-decolorization of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) by 3D fabrics (spacer fabrics) loaded with ZnO:TiO_2 nano-photocatalysts (nphs) were optimized via response surface methodology (RSM). CPD was employed to improve the surface characteristics of the spacer fabrics for nphs loading. Surface morphology and color variation were studied utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and CIE-Lab system, respectively. The effect of CPD on the wetting ability of the spacer fabrics was examined using dynamic adsorption measurement (DAM). Also, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was utilized to investigate the durability of the nphs on the spacer fabrics. All the experiments were implemented in a Box–Behnken design (BBD) with three independent variables (CPD treatment time, dye concentration and irradiation time) in order to optimize the decolorization of RO16. The anticipated values of the decolorization efficiency were found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental values (R"2 = 0.9996, Adjusted R"2 = 0.9992). The kinetic analysis demonstrated that the photocatalytic decolorization followed the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model. In conclusion, this heterogeneous photocatalytic process is capable of decolorizing and mineralizing azoic reactive dye in textile wastewater. Moreover, the results confirmed that RSM based on the BBD was a suitable method to optimize the operating conditions of RO16 degradation.

Effect of cold plasma pre-treatment on photocatalytic activity of 3D fabric loaded with nano-photocatalysts: Response surface methodology

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ghoreishian, Seyed Majid, E-mail: m.ghoreishian.1985@gmail.com [Young Researchers and Elite Club, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Badii, Khashayar [Department of Environmental Researches, Institute for Color Science and Technology (ICST), Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Norouzi, Mohammad [Graduate Program of Biomedical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB (Canada); Malek, Kaveh [Department of Mechanical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

2016-03-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • The potential of immobilized TiO{sub 2} and ZnO nanophotocatalysts for the removal of reactive dye was investigated. • Optimum decolorization conditions have been determined. • The immobilized nanophotocatalysts decolorized azo dyes completely from a textile effluent within 60 min. • Photocatalytic decolorization rates obeyed the pseudo-first-order rate. - Abstract: In this study, the physico-chemical effects occasioned by the cold plasma discharge (CPD) on the photo-decolorization of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) by 3D fabrics (spacer fabrics) loaded with ZnO:TiO{sub 2} nano-photocatalysts (nphs) were optimized via response surface methodology (RSM). CPD was employed to improve the surface characteristics of the spacer fabrics for nphs loading. Surface morphology and color variation were studied utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and CIE-Lab system, respectively. The effect of CPD on the wetting ability of the spacer fabrics was examined using dynamic adsorption measurement (DAM). Also, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was utilized to investigate the durability of the nphs on the spacer fabrics. All the experiments were implemented in a Box–Behnken design (BBD) with three independent variables (CPD treatment time, dye concentration and irradiation time) in order to optimize the decolorization of RO16. The anticipated values of the decolorization efficiency were found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental values (R{sup 2} = 0.9996, Adjusted R{sup 2} = 0.9992). The kinetic analysis demonstrated that the photocatalytic decolorization followed the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model. In conclusion, this heterogeneous photocatalytic process is capable of decolorizing and mineralizing azoic reactive dye in textile wastewater. Moreover, the results confirmed that RSM based on the BBD was a suitable method to optimize the operating conditions of RO16 degradation.

NANOSTRUCTURED TiO2 SENSITIZED WITH PORPHYRINS FOR SOLAR WATER-SPLITTING

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MARCELA-CORINA ROŞU

2011-03-01

Full Text Available Nanostructured TiO2 sensitized with porphyrins for Solar water-splitting.The production of hydrogen from water using solar light is very promising for generations of an ecologically pure carrier contributing to a clean, sustainable and renewable energy system. The selection of specific photocatalyst material for hydrogen production in photoelectrochemical cells (PECs is based on some important characteristics of semiconductor, such as photo-corrosion and chemical corrosion stability, photocatalytic potential, high sensitivity for UV-visible light. In the present paper, different nanocrystalline TiO2 photoanodes have been prepared via wet-chemical techniques followed by annealing treatment and sensitized with porphyrins and supramolecular complexes of porphyrins. The so obtained photocatalysts were characterized with UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy and spectrofluorimetry. The purpose of these experiments is to show if the prepared materials possess the necessary photocatalytic characteristics and if they can be used with success in H2 production from water decomposition in PECs.

Modification of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets by carbon quantum dots for highly efficient photocatalytic generation of hydrogen

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Li, Kui; Su, Feng-Yun; Zhang, Wei-De, E-mail: zhangwd@scut.edu.cn

2016-07-01

Graphical abstract: Carbon quantum dots-modified graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNS/CQDs) catalysts with high and stable activity for photocatalytic generation of hydrogen through water splitting were successfully constructed. - Highlights: • Composite photocatalysts based on g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheets and CQDs were prepared. • High visible light photocatalytic activity for H{sub 2} evolution. • Effective separation and transfer of charge carriers. - Abstract: Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were deposited onto graphite-like carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNS) to form CNNS/CQDs composites. The prepared CNNS/CQDs composites exhibit much higher photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation than pure CNNS do. The CNNS/CQDs-7 sample displays the highest photocatalytic performance, with H{sub 2} production rate of 116.1 μmol h{sup −1}, which is three times of that over pure CNNS (37.8 μmol h{sup −1}). Photoluminescence spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical (PEC) analysis reveal that the CQDs are favorable for trapping electrons and promoting the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in CNNS. A possible photocatalytic mechanism of the enhanced photocatalytic performance for H{sub 2} generation over CNNS/CQDs will be proposed in this paper.

Core–shell TiO2 microsphere with enhanced photocatalytic activity and improved lithium storage

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Guo, Hong; Tian, Dongxue; Liu, Lixiang; Wang, Yapeng; Guo, Yuan; Yang, Xiangjun

2013-01-01

Inorganic hollow core–shell spheres have attracted considerable interest due to their singular properties and wide range of potential applications. Herein a novel facile generic strategy of combining template assisted and solvothermal alcoholysis is employed to prepare core–void–shell anatase TiO 2 nanoparticle aggregates with an excellent photocatalytic activity, and enhanced lithium storage in large quantities. Amorphous carbon can be loaded on the TiO 2 nanoparticles uniformly under a suitably formulated ethanol/water system in the solvothermal alcoholysis process, and the subsequent calcination results of the formation of core–shell–shell anatase TiO 2 nanoparticle aggregates. The intrinsic core–void–shell nature as well as high porosity of the unique nanostructures contributes greatly to the superior photocatalytic activity and improved performance as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. - Graphical abstract: A novel strategy of combining template assisted and solvothermal alcoholysis is employed to prepare unique core–void–shell anatase TiO 2 nanoparticle aggregates with the superior photocatalytic activity and improved lithium storage. Highlights: ► TiO 2 mesospheres are synthesized by solvothermal alcoholysis. ► It is core–void–shell structure and the thickness of shell is estimated to 80 nm. ► It exhibits a remarkable photocatalytic activity and improved lithium storage

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye by zinc oxide nanoparticles obtained from precipitation and sol-gel methods.

Science.gov (United States)

Balcha, Abebe; Yadav, Om Prakash; Dey, Tania

2016-12-01

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized by precipitation and sol-gel methods. The aim of this study was to understand how different synthetic methods can affect the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles. As-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Visible spectroscopic techniques. XRD patterns of ZnO powders synthesized by precipitation and sol-gel methods revealed their hexagonal wurtzite structure with crystallite sizes of 30 and 28 nm, respectively. Their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, a common water pollutant, under UV radiation. The effects of operational parameters such as photocatalyst load and initial concentration of the dye on photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue were investigated. While the degradation of dye decreased over the studied dye concentration range of 20 to 100 mg/L, an optimum photocatalyst load of 250 mg/L was needed to achieve dye degradation as high as 81 and 92.5 % for ZnO prepared by precipitation and sol-gel methods, respectively. Assuming pseudo first-order reaction kinetics, this corresponded to rate constants of 8.4 × 10 -3 and 12.4 × 10 -3  min -1 , respectively. Hence, sol-gel method is preferred over precipitation method in order to achieve higher photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanostructures. Photocatalytic activity is further augmented by better choice of capping ligand for colloidal stabilization, starch being more effective than polyethylene glycol (PEG).

Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet for photocatalytic hydrogen production: The impact of morphology and element composition

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zhang, Zhao; Zhang, Yijie [Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074 (China); Lu, Luhua, E-mail: lhlu@cug.edu.cn [Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074 (China); Zhejiang institute, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, Hangzhou 311305 (China); Si, Yanjie; Zhang, Si [Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074 (China); Chen, Ying [Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074 (China); Zhejiang institute, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, Hangzhou 311305 (China); Dai, Kai, E-mail: daikai94@ustc.edu.cn [College of Physics and Electronic Information, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000 (China); Duan, Ping [Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan 430074 (China); Zhejiang institute, China University of Geosciences Wuhan, Hangzhou 311305 (China); Duan, Limei [Inner Mongolia Key Lab of Chemistry of Natural Products and Synthesis of Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University for the Nationalities, Tongliao 028000 (China); Liu, Jinghai, E-mail: jhliu2008@sinano.ac.cn [Inner Mongolia Key Lab of Chemistry of Natural Products and Synthesis of Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University for the Nationalities, Tongliao 028000 (China)

2017-01-01

Highlights: • g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} with tunable morphology was prepared by varying pyrolysis time. • g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} showed reduced recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. • g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} showed enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. - Abstract: The intrinsic morphology and basal plane defects on g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} nanosheet have important influences on its electronic structures and photocatalytic activity. In this work, we report extending thermal treatment time of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} at 550 °C not only change the morphology of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} but also element composition of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}. The morphology variation results in largely increased SSA from 40.22 to 117.27 m{sup 2} g{sup −1}, obviously reduced pore size from 3.99 to 2.77 nm for g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} and formation of in-plane holes. Moreover, composition variation of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} has also been found to have changed as the pyrolysis time extended. These changes have significant impact on the optical properties and photoelectrical characters of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}, which were investigated by UV-DSR, PL and Photocurrent measurement. The photocatalytic activity of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} obtained via 9 h thermal treatment at 550 °C has shown highest photocatalytic activity, which is 1.77 times than that of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} obtained via 3 h thermal treatment under visible irradiation and 1.99 times under UV irradiation respectively.

Remediação de efluentes derivados da indústria de papel e celulose: tratamento biológico e fotocatalítico Remediation of effluents from paper and cellulose industry: biological and photocatalytic treatment

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

P. Peralta-Zamora

1997-04-01

Full Text Available The contribution of the industrial activities to the environmental contamination phenomena is evident. Great efforts are dedicated to the establishment of methodologies which permits an adequate treatment of the produced effluents, as a manner of minimizing the environmental impact of these wastes. The methodologies based on photocatalytic processes are very promise alternatives, because permits degradation of a great number of chemical substances of high toxic potential, without the use of other chemicals. The present work is an overview about the principal environmental aspects related with the paper and cellulose industry and the main alternatives employed for the reduction of environmental impact produced for its residues. The principal results of the photocatalytic treatment of this kind of effluents using metallic semiconductors is also showed.

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue on magnetically separable MgFe2O4 under visible light irradiation

KAUST Repository

Shahid, Muhammad

2013-05-01

A magnetically separable single-phase MgFe2O4 photocatalyst with a spinel crystal structure was synthesized by using the solid-state reaction method. The formation of spinel structure is confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The magnetic measurements showed that the photocatalyst material can be separated from water when an external magnetic field is added and redispersed into water solution after the external magnetic field is eliminated. It is one of the promising photocatalysts for waste water treatment. The photocatalytic activity of MgFe2O4 was investigated by using the photo-decomposition of methylene blue dye under visible light. The photoelectrochemical property of the MgFe2O4 was studied by measuring their photocurrent-potential behavior in 1 M NaOH electrolyte under AM 1.5100 mW cm-2 illumination. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Facile synthesis of carbon-ZnO nanocomposite with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Akir, Sana [Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, ISEN, Univ. Valenciennes, UMR 8520 − IEMN, F-59000, Centrale Lille (France); Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux Lamellaires et Nano-Matériaux Hybrides, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, 7021, Bizerte (Tunisia); Laboratoire de Physico-chimie des Matériaux Minéraux et leurs Applications, Centre National des Recherches en Sciences des Matériaux, Technopôle de Bordj Cedria, BP73, 8027, Soliman (Tunisia); Hamdi, Abderrahmane [Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, ISEN, Univ. Valenciennes, UMR 8520 − IEMN, F-59000, Centrale Lille (France); Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux Lamellaires et Nano-Matériaux Hybrides, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, 7021, Bizerte (Tunisia); Laboratory of Semi-conductors, Nano-structures and Advanced Technologies, Research and Technology Centre of Energy, Borj-Cedria Science and Technology Park, BP 95, 2050, Hammam-Lif (Tunisia); Addad, Ahmed [UMET, UMR CNRS 8207, Université Lille 1, 59655 Villeneuve d' Ascq Cédex (France); Coffinier, Yannick [Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, ISEN, Univ. Valenciennes, UMR 8520 − IEMN, F-59000, Centrale Lille (France); Boukherroub, Rabah, E-mail: rabah.boukherroub@iemn.univ-lille1.fr [Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, ISEN, Univ. Valenciennes, UMR 8520 − IEMN, F-59000, Centrale Lille (France); and others

2017-04-01

Highlights: • C-ZnO nanocomposite was successfully prepared via a facile and eco-friendly process. • C-ZnO NPs have excellent photocatalytic activity for RhB dye degradation under visible light irradiation compared with literature. • The visible photocatalytic properties originate from injection e{sup −} in CB of ZnO from RhB. - Abstract: The present study describes a facile route for synthesis of carbon-ZnO nanocomposites (C-ZnO) via hydrothermal process in presence of glucose as carbon precursor. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The results showed carbon uniformly coated on the surface of the ZnO nanoparticles to form the C-ZnO nanocomposites. Further investigation revealed that carbon could significantly protect ZnO NPs against the coalescence during high temperature treatment. The obtained C-ZnO nanocomposite showed excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation, which was attributed to the repressed charge carrier recombination in the nanocomposite. Quenching experiments and photocurrent measurements revealed a photocatalytic mechanism occurring through photosensitization.

Microwave synthesis and photocatalytic activities of ZnO bipods with different aspect ratios

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sun, Fazhe; Zhao, Zengdian [Analysis and Testing Center, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255100 (China); Qiao, Xueliang, E-mail: xuelqiao@163.com [State Key Laboratory of Plastic Forming Simulation and Die and Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei (China); Tan, Fatang; Wang, Wei [State Key Laboratory of Plastic Forming Simulation and Die and Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei (China)

2016-02-15

Highlights: • We synthesized linked ZnO nanorods by a facile microwave method. • The effect of reaction parameters on ZnO was investigated. • ZnO bipods with different aspect ratios were prepared. • The photocatalytic performance of ZnO bipods was evaluated. - Abstract: Linked ZnO nanorods have been successfully prepared via a facile microwave method without any post-synthesis treatment. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated the precursor had completely transformed into the pure ZnO crystal. The images of field emitting scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed that linked ZnO nanorods consisted predominantly of ZnO bipods. The formation process of the ZnO bipods was clearly discussed. ZnO bipods with different aspect ratios have been obtained by tuning the concentrations of reagents and microwave power. Moreover, the photocatalytic performance of ZnO bipods with different aspect ratios for degradation of methylene blue was systematically evaluated. The results of photocatalytic experiments showed that the photocatalytic activity increased with the aspect ratios of ZnO bipods increased. The reason is that ZnO bipods with larger aspect ratio have higher surface area, which can absorb more MB molecules to react with ·OH radicals.

Facile synthesis of phosphorus doped graphitic carbon nitride polymers with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang, Ligang; Chen, Xiufang; Guan, Jing; Jiang, Yijun; Hou, Tonggang; Mu, Xindong

2013-01-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • P-doped g-C 3 N 4 has been prepared by a one-pot green synthetic approach. • The incorporation of P resulted in favorable textural and electronic properties. • Doping with P enhanced the visible-light photocatalytic activity of g-C 3 N 4 . • A postannealing treatment further enhanced the activity of P-doped g-C 3 N 4 . • Photogenerated holes were the main species responsible for the activity. - Abstract: Phosphorus-doped carbon nitride materials were prepared by a one-pot green synthetic approach using dicyandiamide monomer and a phosphorus containing ionic liquid as precursors. The as-prepared materials were subjected to several characterizations and investigated as metal-free photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants (dyes like Rhodamine B, Methyl orange) in aqueous solution under visible light. Results revealed that phosphorus-doped carbon nitride have a higher photocatalytic activity for decomposing Rhodamine B and Methyl orange in aqueous solution than undoped g-C 3 N 4 , which was attributed to the favorable textural, optical and electronic properties caused by doping with phosphorus heteroatoms into carbon nitride host. A facile postannealing treatment further improved the activity of the photocatalytic system, due to the higher surface area and smaller structural size in the postcalcined catalysts. The phosphorus-doped carbon nitride showed high visible-light photocatalytic activity, making them promising materials for a wide range of potential applications in photochemistry

Novel β-C3N4/CuO nanoflakes: facile synthesis and unique photocatalytic performance

Science.gov (United States)

Zou, Lan-Rong; Huang, Gui-Fang; Li, Dong-Feng; Tian, Qing-Nan; Yang, Ke; Si, Yuan; Chang, Shengli; Zhang, Xue-Ao; Huang, Wei-Qing

2017-09-01

For the first time, novel β-C3N4/CuO composites with superior photocatalytic activity are successfully fabricated via a facile reflux method followed by a thermal process. The morphologies, particle size and microstructure of the synthesized β-C3N4/CuO composites largely depended upon copper chloride and the volume ratio of V water:V ethanol in the mixed precursors. The fabricated β-C3N4/CuO nanoflakes exhibited obviously enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) with an  ˜3.4 and 1.9 fold increase in efficiency over that of pure g-C3N4 and commercial P25, respectively. The β-C3N4/CuO composite photocatalyst also showed photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange (MO). Moreover, the β-C3N4/CuO nanoflakes showed almost no loss of photocatalytic activity after three recycles of the degradation of the MB. A multiple synergetic mechanism in β-C3N4/CuO nanoflakes, which is featured by the highly reactive {0 0 2} facets, exposed many active sites of nanoflakes and the efficient charge separation are proposed to account for the distinguished photocatalytic activity. This work provides a facile and cost-effective strategy for designing novel β-C3N4/CuO photocatalysts for application in environmental purification.

Synthesis and visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of p-n heterojunction Ag2O/NaTaO3 nanocubes

Science.gov (United States)

Yang, Songbo; Xu, Dongbo; Chen, Biyi; Luo, Bifu; Yan, Xu; Xiao, Lisong; Shi, Weidong

2016-10-01

The constructing of p-n heterojunction photocatalytic system has received much attention in environmental purification and hydrogen generation from water. In this study, an efficient visible-light-driven p-n heterojunction Ag2O/NaTaO3 was successfully prepared by chemical precipitation method at room temperature. It showed an enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation, much higher than those of either individual Ag2O or NaTaO3. The reactive species scavenger results indicated the superoxide anion radicals (rad O2-) played key roles in RhB decoloration. From the experimental results and the relative band gap position of these semiconductors, a detailed possible photocatalytic mechanism of the Ag2O/NaTaO3 heterojunction under visible light was proposed. The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity was attributed to the interfacial electronic interaction between NaTaO3 and Ag2O and the high migration efficiency of photogenerated carriers.

A comprehensive investigation of tetragonal Gd-doped BiVO{sub 4} with enhanced photocatalytic performance under sun-light

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Luo, Yangyang; Tan, Guoqiang, E-mail: tan3114@163.com; Dong, Guohua; Ren, Huijun; Xia, Ao

2016-02-28

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Tetragonal Gd-BiVO{sub 4} with enhanced photocatalytic activity was synthesized. • Gd doping can induce the phase transition from monoclinic to tetragonal BiVO{sub 4}. • GdVO{sub 4} seeds as crystal nucleus dominate the formation of tetragonal Gd-BiVO{sub 4}. • Tetragonal Gd-BiVO{sub 4} exhibits the excellent separation of electrons and holes. • The contribution of high photocatalytic activity under sun-light is from UV-light. - Abstract: Tetragonal Gd-doped BiVO{sub 4} having enhanced photocatalytic activity have been synthesized by a facile microwave hydrothermal method. The structural analysis indicates that Gd doping can induce the phase transition from monoclinic to tetragonal BiVO{sub 4}. The reaction results in precursor solutions imply that tetragonal GdVO{sub 4} seeds as crystal nucleus are the original and determined incentives to force the formation of tetragonal Gd-BiVO{sub 4}. The influences of the surface defect, band structure, and BET surface area on the improved photocatalytic activities of tetragonal Gd-doped BiVO{sub 4} are investigated systematically. The results demonstrate that the more surface oxygen deficiencies as active sites and the excellent mobility and separation of photogenerated electrons and holes are beneficial to the enhancement of the photocatalytic performance of tetragonal Gd-BiVO{sub 4}. The RhB photodegradation experiments indicate that the contribution of high photocatalytic activities under simulated sun-light is mainly from UV-light region due to the tetragonal structure feature. The best photocatalytic performance is obtained for tetragonal 10 at% Gd-BiVO{sub 4}, of which the RhB degradation rate can reach to 96% after 120 min simulated sun-light irradiation. The stable tetragonal Gd-BiVO{sub 4} with efficient mineralization will be a promising photocatalytic material applied in water purification.

Core/shell structured ZnO/SiO2 nanoparticles: Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic property

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhai Jing; Tao Xia; Pu Yuan; Zeng Xiaofei; Chen Jianfeng

2010-01-01

ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by a simple chemical synthesis route. Subsequently, SiO 2 layers were successfully coated onto the surface of ZnO nanoparticles to modify the photocatalytic activity in acidic or alkaline solutions. The obtained particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and zeta potential. It was found that ultrafine core/shell structured ZnO/SiO 2 nanoparticles were successfully obtained. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO/SiO 2 core/shell structured nanoparticles in Rhodamine B aqueous solution at varied pH value were also investigated. Compared with uncoated ZnO nanoparticles, core/shell structured ZnO/SiO 2 nanoparticles with thinner SiO 2 shell possess improved stability and relatively better photocatalytic activity in acidic or alkaline solutions, which would broaden its potential application in pollutant treatment.

AgBr/diatomite for the efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B

Science.gov (United States)

Fang, Jing; Zhao, Huamei; Liu, Qinglei; Zhang, Wang; Gu, Jiajun; Su, Yishi; Abbas, Waseem; Su, Huilan; You, Zhengwei; Zhang, Di

2018-03-01

The treatment of organic pollution via photocatalysis has been investigated for a few decades. However, earth-abundant, cheap, stable, and efficient substrates are still to be developed. Here, we prepare an efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst via the deposition of Ag nanoparticles (light intensity. For comparison, AgBr/SiO2 ( κ = 0.04 min-1) and commercial AgBr nanoparticles ( κ = 0.05 min-1) were measured as well. The experimental results reveal that diatomite acted more than a substrate benefiting the dispersion of AgBr nanoparticles, as well as a cooperator to help harvest visible light and adsorb dye molecules, leading to the efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance of AgBr/diatomite. Considering the low cost (10 per ton) and large-scale availability of diatomite, our study provides the possibility to prepare other types of diatomite-based efficient photocatalytic composites with low-cost but excellent photocatalytic performance.

Transformation of hydrogen titanate nanoribbons to TiO2 nanoribbons and the influence of the transformation strategies on the photocatalytic performance

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Melita Rutar

2015-03-01

Full Text Available The influence of the reaction conditions during the transformation of hydrogen titanate nanoribbons to TiO2 nanoribbons on the phase composition, the morphology, the appearance of the nanoribbon surfaces and their optical properties was investigated. The transformations were performed (i through a heat treatment in oxidative and reductive atmospheres in the temperature range of 400–650 °C, (ii through a hydrothermal treatment in neutral and basic environments at 160 °C, and (iii through a microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment in a neutral environment at 200 °C. Scanning electron microscopy investigations showed that the hydrothermal processing significantly affected the nanoribbon surfaces, which became rougher, while the transformations based on calcination in either oxidative or reductive atmospheres had no effect on the morphology or on the surface appearance of the nanoribbons. The transformations performed in the reductive atmosphere, an NH3(g/Ar(g flow, and in the ammonia solution led to nitrogen doping. The nitrogen content increased with an increasing calcination temperature, as was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. According to electron paramagnetic resonance measurements the calcination in the reductive atmosphere also resulted in a partial reduction of Ti4+ to Ti3+. The photocatalytic performance of the derived TiO2 NRs was estimated on the basis of the photocatalytic oxidation of isopropanol. After calcinating in air, the photocatalytic performance of the investigated TiO2 NRs increased with an increased content of anatase. In contrast, the photocatalytic performance of the N-doped TiO2 NRs showed no dependence on the calcination temperature. An additional comparison showed that the N-doping significantly suppressed the photocatalytic performance of the TiO2 NRs, i.e., by 3 to almost 10 times, in comparison with the TiO2 NRs derived by calcination in air. On the other hand, the photocatalytic performance of the

Mine water treatment

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Komissarov, S V

1980-10-01

This article discusses composition of chemical compounds dissolved or suspended in mine waters in various coal basins of the USSR: Moscow basin, Kuzbass, Pechora, Kizelovsk, Karaganda, Donetsk and Chelyabinsk basins. Percentage of suspended materials in water depending on water source (water from water drainage system of dust suppression system) is evaluated. Pollution of mine waters with oils and coli bacteria is also described. Recommendations on construction, capacity of water settling tanks, and methods of mine water treatment are presented. In mines where coal seams 2 m or thicker are mined a system of two settling tanks should be used: in the upper one large grains are settled, in the lower one finer grains. The upper tank should be large enough to store mine water discharged during one month, and the lower one to store water discharged over two months. Salty waters from coal mines mining thin coal seams should be treated in a system of water reservoirs from which water evaporates (if climatic conditions permit). Mine waters from mines with thin coal seams but without high salt content can be treated in a system of long channels with water plants, which increase amount of oxygen in treated water. System of biological treatment of waste waters from mine wash-houses and baths is also described. Influence of temperature, sunshine and season of the year on efficiency of mine water treatment is also assessed. (In Russian)

Photocatalytic paper using zinc oxide nanorods

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Baruah, Sunandan; Jaisai, Mayuree; Imani, Reza; Nazhad, Mousa M; Dutta, Joydeep

2010-01-01

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods were grown on a paper support prepared from soft wood pulp. The photocatalytic activity of a sheet of paper with ZnO nanorods embedded in its porous matrix has been studied. ZnO nanorods were firmly attached to cellulose fibers and the photocatalytic paper samples were reused several times with nominal decrease in efficiency. Photodegradation of up to 93% was observed for methylene blue in the presence of paper filled with ZnO nanorods upon irradiation with visible light at 963 Wm -2 for 120 min. Under similar conditions, photodegradation of approximately 35% was observed for methyl orange. Antibacterial tests revealed that the photocatalytic paper inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli under room lighting conditions.

Improved photocatalytic activity of highly ordered TiO{sub 2} nanowire arrays for methylene blue degradation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lv, Xiaojun, E-mail: xjlv@mail.ipc.ac.cn [Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials and HKU-CAS Joint Laboratory on New Materials, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190 (China); Zhang, Hao; Chang, Haixin [WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578 (Japan)

2012-10-15

Although many efforts have been done on the photocatalytic properties of anodic TiO{sub 2} nanotubes, much less work is done on the photocatalytic performance of TiO{sub 2} nanowires. Self-organized anodic TiO{sub 2} nanowire arrays have been fabricated using a simple electrochemical approach and used as photocatalysts in photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dyes. Here we found for the first time TiO{sub 2} nanowires have better photocatalytic properties and incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) than TiO{sub 2} nanotubes. N doped TiO{sub 2} nanowires showed further enhancement in photodegradation activity and photocurrent response in the visible region. Such TiO{sub 2} nanowires are expected to have great potential in photodegradation of pollutants, photovoltaic solar energy conversion and water splitting for hydrogen generation as well. -- Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TiO{sub 2} nanowire arrays electrode fabricated via anodizing Ti foil. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer TiO{sub 2} nanowire arrays have higher photodegradation activity. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer N doped TiO{sub 2} nanowires enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity.

Nano Ag@AgBr surface-sensitized Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} photocatalyst: oil-in-water synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic degradation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lin, Shuanglong; Liu, Li; Hu, Jinshan; Liang, Yinghua, E-mail: liangyh@heuu.edu.cn; Cui, Wenquan, E-mail: wkcui@163.com

2015-01-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • The plasmatic Ag@AgBr surface-sensitized Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} composite photocatalysts. • Ag@AgBr greatly increased visible-light absorption for Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}. • The plasmonic photocatalysts exhibited enhanced activity for the degradation of MB, phenol and salicylic acid. - Abstract: Nano Ag@AgBr decorated on the surface of flower-like Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} (hereafter designated Ag@AgBr/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}) were prepared via a facile oil-in-water self-assembly method. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), etc. The characterization results indicated that nano Ag@AgBr was observed to be evenly dispersed on the surface of Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}, and was approximately 20 nm in size. Ag@AgBr/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} composites exhibited excellent UV–vis absorption, due to quantum dimension effect of Ag@AgBr, the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) of Ag nanoparticles and the special flower-like structure of Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}. The photoelectrochemical measurement verified that the suitable band potential of Ag@AgBr and Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} and the existence of metal Ag resulted in the high efficiency in charge separation of the composite. The photocatalytic activities of the Ag@AgBr/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} samples were examined under visible-light irradiation for the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The composite presented excellent photocatalytic activity due to the synergetic effect of Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6}, AgBr, and Ag nanoparticles. The Ag@AgBr(20 wt.%)/Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} sample exhibited the best photocatalytic activity, degrading 95.03% MB after irradiation for 2 h, which was respectively 1.29 times and 1.28 times higher than that of Ag@AgBr and Bi{sub 2}WO{sub 6} photocatalyst. Meanwhile, phenol and salicylic acid were degraded to further prove the degradation ability of Ag@AgBr/Bi{sub 2

PREPRARATION OF CoPcS/TiO2/BEADS AND THEIR PHOTOCATALYTIC REACTIVITY FOR PHOTODEGRADATION OF VEGETABLE OIL FLOATING ON WATER

Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

2007-01-01

The paper introduces the preparation of floating TiO2/beads photocalyst attached to the hollow glass micro-beads surface by sol-gel technique using tetrabutyl titanate as material and the preparation of floating CoPcS/TiO2/beads by dip-coatig technique. The optimal factor of degradation of vegetable oil floating on water using CoPcS/TiO2/beads was studied. The result showed that the removal rate of vegetable oil floating on water can highly reach 90% at the optimal condition (acidity or neutrality, 375W medium-pressure mercury vapour lamp, illumination 2h~3h, 1g CoPcS/TiO2/beads). The photocatalytic removal efficiency causing by CoPcS/TiO2/beads was increased rapidly by adding a trace amount of H2O2.

PREPRARATION OF CoPcS/TiO2/BEADS AND THEIR PHOTOCATALYTIC REACTIVITY FOR PHOTODEGRADATION OF VEGETABLE OIL FLOATING ON WATER

Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

ZHANG Xiaoye; YAN Yongsheng; KONG Feng; WANG Yun

2007-01-01

The paper introduces the preparation of floating TiO2/beads photocalyst attached to the hollow glass micro-beads surface by sol-gel technique using tetrabutyl titanate as material and the preparation of floating CoPcS/TiO2/beads by dip-coatig technique. The optimal factor of degradation of vegetable oil floating on water using CoPcS/TiO2/beads was studied. The result showed that the removal rate of vegetable oil floating on water can highly reach 90% at the optimal condition (acidity or neutrality, 375W medium-pressure mercury vapour lamp, illumination 2h～3h, 1g CoPcS/TiO2/beads). The photocatalytic removal efficiency causing by CoPcS/TiO2/beads was increased rapidly by adding a trace amount of H2O2.

Solar photocatalytic mineralization of isoproturon over TiO{sub 2}/HY composite systems

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sharma, Mangalampalli V. Phanikrishna; Lalitha, Kannekanti; Durgakumari, Valluri; Subrahmanyam, Machiraju [Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007 (India)

2008-03-15

The present investigation covers immobilization of titanium dioxide over HY support for the treatment of isoproturon pesticide. Catalysts are characterized by XRD, SEM-EDAX, TEM, BET surface area and UV-vis DRS. A detailed photocatalytic degradation study under solar light in aqueous suspensions with parameters like loading of TiO{sub 2} over HY, amount of the catalyst, concentration of substrate, pH effect, durability of the catalyst and comparison between suspended TiO{sub 2} and supported systems are reported. Mineralization of isoproturon is monitored by total organic carbon, chemical oxygen demand and a plausible mechanism is proposed for photocatalytic degradation based on degradation products. (author)

Photocatalytic Degradation of Oil using Polyvinylidene Fluoride/Titanium Dioxide Composite Membrane for Oily Wastewater Treatment

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Rusli Ummi Nadiah

2016-01-01

Full Text Available Production of industrial wastewater is increasing as the oil and gas industry grows rapidly over the years. The constituents in the industrial wastewater such as organic and inorganic matters, dispersed and lubricant oil and metals which have high toxicity become the major concern to the environment and ecosystem. There are many technologies are being used for oil removal from industrial wastewater. However, there are still needs to find an effective technology to treat oily wastewater before in can be discharge safely to the environment. Membrane technology is an attractive separation technology to treat oily wastewater. The aim of this study is to fabricate polyvinylidene/titanium dioxide (PVDF/TiO2 composite membrane with further treatment using hot pressed method to enhance the adhesion between TiO2 with the membrane surfaces. In this study the structural and physical properties of fabricated membrane were conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR respectively. The photocatalytic degradation of oil was measured using UV-Vis Spectroscopy. The FTIR results confirmed that, hot pressed PVDF/TiO2 membrane TiO2 was successfully deposited onto PVDF membranes surface and XRD results shows that the XRD pattern of PVDF//TiO2 found that the crystalline structure was remained unchanged after hot pressed. Clear water was obtained after synthetic oily wastewater was exposed to visible light for at least 6 hours. In conclusion, PVDF/TiO2 composite membrane can be a potential candidate to degrade oil in oily wastewater and suggested to possess an excellent performance if perform simultaneously with membrane separation process.

UV-A photocatalytic treatment of Legionella pneumophila bacteria contaminated airflows through three-dimensional solid foam structured photocatalytic reactors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Josset, Sebastien; Hajiesmaili, Shabnam; Begin, Dominique; Edouard, David; Pham-Huu, Cuong [Laboratoire des Materiaux, Surfaces et Procedes pour la Catalyse (LMSPC), European Laboratory for Catalysis and Surface Sciences (ELCASS), CNRS, Strasbourg University, 25 rue Becquerel 67087 Strasbourg (France); Lett, Marie-Claire [Laboratoire de Genetique Moleculaire, Genomique, Microbiologie, CNRS, Strasbourg University, 28, rue Goethe 67083 Strasbourg Cedex (France); Keller, Nicolas, E-mail: nkeller@chimie.u-strasbg.fr [Laboratoire des Materiaux, Surfaces et Procedes pour la Catalyse (LMSPC), European Laboratory for Catalysis and Surface Sciences (ELCASS), CNRS, Strasbourg University, 25 rue Becquerel 67087 Strasbourg (France); Keller, Valerie [Laboratoire des Materiaux, Surfaces et Procedes pour la Catalyse (LMSPC), European Laboratory for Catalysis and Surface Sciences (ELCASS), CNRS, Strasbourg University, 25 rue Becquerel 67087 Strasbourg (France)

2010-03-15

A 3D-structured photocatalytic media was designed for allowing a tubular reactor to work in a traversing-flow mode at low pressure drops with a strong increase in the surface area-to-volume ratio inside the reactor. A protective polysiloxane coating was performed for protecting a structured polyurethane foam and anchoring the active TiO{sub 2} particles. Filled with the 3D-structured solid foam supporting TiO{sub 2} photocatalyst, the reactor could thus take advantages from the static mixer effect and from the low pressure drop resulting from the reticulated foam support. Very efficient decontamination levels towards airborne Legionella pneumophila bacteria were reached in a single-pass test mode.

Bioinspired Bifunctional Membrane for Efficient Clean Water Generation.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Yang; Lou, Jinwei; Ni, Mengtian; Song, Chengyi; Wu, Jianbo; Dasgupta, Neil P; Tao, Peng; Shang, Wen; Deng, Tao

2016-01-13

Solving the problems of water pollution and water shortage is an urgent need for the sustainable development of modern society. Different approaches, including distillation, filtration, and photocatalytic degradation, have been developed for the purification of contaminated water and the generation of clean water. In this study, we explored a new approach that uses solar light for both water purification and clean water generation. A bifunctional membrane consisting of a top layer of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), a middle layer of Au NPs, and a bottom layer of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) was designed and fabricated through multiple filtration processes. Such a design enables both TiO2 NP-based photocatalytic function and Au NP-based solar-driven plasmonic evaporation. With the integration of these two functions into a single membrane, both the purification of contaminated water through photocatalytic degradation and the generation of clean water through evaporation were demonstrated using simulated solar illumination. Such a demonstration should also help open up a new strategy for maximizing solar energy conversion and utilization.

Structural characteristics of mixed oxides MOx/SiO2 affecting photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gun’ko, V.M.; Blitz, J.P.; Bandaranayake, B.; Pakhlov, E.M.; Zarko, V.I.; Sulym, I.Ya.; Kulyk, K.S.; Galaburda, M.V.; Bogatyrev, V.M.; Oranska, O.I.; Borysenko, M.V.; Leboda, R.; Skubiszewska-Zięba, J.; Janush, W.

2012-01-01

A series of photocatalysts based on silica (nanoparticulate) supported titania, ceria, and ceria/zirconia were synthesized and characterized by a variety of techniques including surface area measurements, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential, surface charge density, and photocatalytic behavior toward methylene blue decomposition. Thermal treatment at 600 °C increases the anatase content of the titania based catalysts detected by XRD. Changes in the infrared spectra before and after thermal treatment indicate that at low temperature there are more ≡Si-O-Ti≡ bonds than at high temperature. As these bonds break upon heating the SiO 2 and TiO 2 separate, allowing the TiO 2 anatase phase to form. This results in an increased catalytic activity for the thermally treated samples. Nearly all titania based samples exhibit a negative surface charge density at pH 7 (initial pH of photocatalytic studies) which aids adsorption of methylene blue. The crystallinity of ceria and ceria/zirconia based catalysts are in some cases limited, and in others non-existent. Even though the energy band gap (E g ) can be lower for these catalysts than for the titania based catalysts, their photocatalytic properties are inferior.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO/CuO nanocomposite for the degradation of textile dye on visible light illumination

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Saravanan, R.; Karthikeyan, S.; Gupta, V.K.; Sekaran, G.; Narayanan, V.; Stephen, A.

2013-01-01

The photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes such as methylene blue and methyl orange in the presence of various percentages of composite catalyst under visible light irradiation was carried out. The catalyst ZnO nanorods and ZnO/CuO nanocomposites of different weight ratios were prepared by new thermal decomposition method, which is simple and cost effective. The prepared catalysts were characterized by different techniques such as X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. Further, the most photocatalytically active composite material was used for degradation of real textile waste water under visible light illumination. The irradiated samples were analysed by total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand. The efficiency of the catalyst and their photocatalytic mechanism has been discussed in detail. Highlights: ► Visible light active photocatalyst ► Degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange ► Preparation of composite materials is a simple, fast and cost effective method. ► Nano composite materials ► Degradation of textile waste water

In situ growing Bi_2MoO_6 on g-C_3N_4 nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and disinfection of bacteria under visible light irradiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Li, Juan; Yin, Yunchao; Liu, Enzhou; Ma, Yongning; Wan, Jun; Fan, Jun; Hu, Xiaoyun

2017-01-01

Graphical abstract: TEM image and schematic diagram of photocatalytic mechanism of Bi_2MoO_6/g-C_3N_4 composite. - Highlights: • BM/CNNs heterojunctions were obtained by an in situ solvothermal method. • 2D CNNs are superior to CN as photocatalysts and supporting materials. • The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of BM/CNNs has been first studied. • The photocatalytic disinfection of bacteria by BM/CNNs has been first studied. • The photocatalytic mechanism of BM/CNNs heterojunction was described. - Abstract: Bi_2MoO_6/g-C_3N_4 heterojunctions were fabricated by an in situ solvothermal method using g-C_3N_4 nanosheets. The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared samples were evaluated by hydrogen evolution from water splitting and disinfection of bacteria under visible light irradiation. The results indicate that exfoliating bulk g-C_3N_4 to g-C_3N_4 nanosheets greatly enlarges the specific surface area and shortens the diffusion distance for photogenerated charges, which could not only promote the photocatalytic performance but also benefit the sufficient interaction with Bi_2MoO_6. Furthermore, intimate contact of Bi_2MoO_6 (BM) and g-C_3N_4 nanosheets (CNNs) in the BM/CNNs composites facilitates the transfer and separation of photogenetrated electron-hole pairs. 20%-BM/CNNs heterojunction exhibits the optimal photocatalytic hydrogen evolution as well as photocatalytic disinfection of bacteria. Furthermore, h"+ was demonstrated as the dominant reactive species which could make the bacteria cells inactivated in the photocatalytic disinfection process. This study extends new chance of g-C_3N_4-based photocatalysts to the growing demand of clean new energy and drinking water.

Assessment of Microwave/UV/O3 in the Photo-Catalytic Degradation of Bromothymol Blue in Aqueous Nano TiO2 Particles Dispersions

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Kim Sun-Jae

2010-01-01

Full Text Available Abstract In this study, a microwave/UV/TiO2/ozone/H2O2 hybrid process system, in which various techniques that have been used for water treatment are combined, is evaluated to develop an advanced technology to treat non-biodegradable water pollutants efficiently. In particular, the objective of this study is to develop a novel advanced oxidation process that overcomes the limitations of existing single-process water treatment methods by adding microwave irradiation to maximize the formation of active intermediate products, e.g., OH radicals, with the aid of UV irradiation by microwave discharge electrodeless lamp, photo-catalysts, and auxiliary oxidants. The results of photo-catalytic degradation of BTB showed that the decomposition rate increased with the TiO2 particle dosages and microwave intensity. When an auxiliary oxidant such as ozone or hydrogen peroxide was added to the microwave-assisted photo-catalysis, however, a synergy effect that enhanced the reaction rate considerably was observed.

Photocatalytic fluoroalkylation reactions of organic compounds

OpenAIRE

Barata Vallejo, Sebastian; Bonesi, Sergio Mauricio; Postigo, Jose Alberto

2017-01-01

Photocatalytic methods for fluoroalkyl-radical generation provide more convenient alternatives to the classical perfluoroalkyl-radical (Rf) production through chemical initiators, such as azo or peroxide compounds or the employment of transition metals through a thermal electron transfer (ET) initiation process. The mild photocatalytic reaction conditions tolerate a variety of functional groups and, thus, are handy to the late-stage modification of bioactive molecules. Transition metal-photoc...

Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange Dye under the Daylight Irradiation over CN-TiO₂ Modified with OMS-2.

Science.gov (United States)

Hassan, Mohamed Elfatih; Chen, Jing; Liu, Guanglong; Zhu, Duanwei; Cai, Jianbo

2014-12-12

In this study, CN-TiO₂ was modified with cryptomelane octahedral molecular sieves (OMS-2) by the sol-gel method based on the self-assembly technique to enhance its photocatalytic activity under the daylight irradiation. The synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and porosimeter analysis. The results showed that the addition of OMS-2 in the sol lead to higher Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, pore volume, porosity of particle after heat treatment and the specific surface area, porosity, crystallite size and pore size distribution could be controlled by adjusting the calcination temperature. Compared to the CN-TiO₂-400 sample, CN-TiO₂/OMS-2-400 exhibited greater red shift in absorption edge of samples in visible region due to the OMS-2 coated. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity of CN-TiO₂/OMS-2 composite photocatalyst was subsequently evaluated for the degradation of the methyl orange dye under the daylight irradiation in water. The results showed that the methyl orange dye degradation rate reach to 37.8% for the CN-TiO₂/OMS-2-400 sample under the daylight irradiation for 5 h, which was higher than that of reference sample. The enhancement in daylight photocatalytic activities of the CN-TiO₂/OMS samples could be attributed to the synergistic effects of OMS-2 coated, larger surface area and red shift in adsorption edge of the prepared sample.

Effects of indium contents on photocatalytic performance of ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} for hydrogen evolution under visible light

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Song, Kelin [Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Utilization and Environmental Pollution Control, Shenzhen 518055 (China); Zhu, Rongshu, E-mail: rszhu@hitsz.edu.cn [Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Utilization and Environmental Pollution Control, Shenzhen 518055 (China); Public Platform for Technological Service in Urban Waste Reuse and Energy Regeneration, Shenzhen 518055 (China); Tian, Fei [Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Utilization and Environmental Pollution Control, Shenzhen 518055 (China); Cao, Gang, E-mail: caog@hotmail.com [Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Utilization and Environmental Pollution Control, Shenzhen 518055 (China); Public Platform for Technological Service in Urban Waste Reuse and Energy Regeneration, Shenzhen 518055 (China); Ouyang, Feng [Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Utilization and Environmental Pollution Control, Shenzhen 518055 (China); Public Platform for Technological Service in Urban Waste Reuse and Energy Regeneration, Shenzhen 518055 (China)

2015-12-15

A series of ZnIn{sub x}S{sub 4+y} (x=1.6, 2.0, 2.3, 2.6, 2.9, 3.1) photocatalysts were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and characterized by various analytical techniques, such as XRD, EDS, UV–vis DRS, SEM, TEM, BET and PL. The ZnIn{sub x}S{sub 4+y} photocatalysts had a similar crystal structure. With the increase of indium content, the absorption edges of ZnIn{sub x}S{sub 4+y} photocatalysts shifted to longer wavelength, their crystal sizes decreased firstly and then increased and the variation of the specific surface area and total pore volume was exactly opposite. Especially, when x=2.3, ZnIn{sub 2.3}S{sub 4+y} catalyst had smallest crystal size, largest specific surface area and total pore volume. Additionally, the morphology of ZnIn{sub x}S{sub 4+y} greatly depended on the contents of indium. The photocatalytic activity of ZnIn{sub x}S{sub 4+y} was evaluated by photocatalytic hydrogen production from water under visible light. The ZnIn{sub 2.3}S{sub 4+y} sample had the highest photocatalytic activity among these ZnIn{sub x}S{sub 4+y} photocatalysts and its hydrogen production rate was 363 μmol/g h. - Graphical abstract: First, a series of catalysts were synthesized. And then those were characterized by various analytical techniques (such as SEM). finally, The photocatalytic activity of catalyst was evaluated by photocatalytic hydrogen production from water under visible light. - Highlights: • The photocatalytic property was studied upon visible-light irradiation. • ZnIn{sub x}S{sub 4+y} photocatalysts show superior photocatalytic activity. • The catalyst of grain size, morphology and BET are related to indium content. • ZnIn{sub x}S{sub 4+y} photocatalysts were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method.

Deposition of CdS nanoparticles on MIL-53(Fe) metal-organic framework with enhanced photocatalytic degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hu, Longxing, E-mail: hulxhhhb@shu.edu.cn [School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444 (China); Deng, Guihua [School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444 (China); Lu, Wencong [College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444 (China); Pang, Siwei; Hu, Xing [School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444 (China)

2017-07-15

Graphical abstract: The CdS/MIL-53(Fe) photocatalyst has been synthesized by a facile two-step solvothermal method and applied for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant RhB under visible light irradiation. - Highlights: • A novel CdS/MIL-53(Fe) photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via a facile two-step solvothermal method. • CdS/MIL-53(Fe) exhibited an enhanced visible-light photocatalytic degradation of RhB in water. • The mechanisms for the formation of CdS/MIL-53(Fe) and photocatalytic degradation of RhB were proposed. - Abstract: A novel composite, CdS/MIL-53(Fe), was successfully fabricated via a facile solvothermal method and characterized with XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FT-IR and UV–vis DRS. The results showed that the fabrication was able to result in a good dispersion of CdS nanoparticles onto MIL-53(Fe). The photocatalytic activities of the as-synthesized composite were investigated through the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) in water under visible light irradiation. It was found that the composite prepared at the mass ratio of CdS to MIL-53(Fe) of 1.5:1 displayed the highest photocatalytic activity. An approximately 92.5% of photocatalytic degradation of RhB was achieved at 0.5 g/L of 1.5-CdS/MIL dosage, 10 mg/L of initial RhB concentration and 23 °C of reaction temperature under visible light irradiation. The RhB photocatalytic degradation followed well the first-order kinetics equation and the increased catalyst dosage and optimal initial RhB concentration were responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation. Quenching tests revealed that the predominant free radicals in the CdS/MIL-(53)-RhB{sub aq}-visible light system was O{sub 2}{sup −}·; nevertheless, h{sup +} and ·OH also contributed to a certain degree. The enhanced photocatalytic performance was ascribed to the formation of heterojunction structure between CdS and MIL-53(Fe) which significantly suppressed the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs

Deposition of CdS nanoparticles on MIL-53(Fe) metal-organic framework with enhanced photocatalytic degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hu, Longxing; Deng, Guihua; Lu, Wencong; Pang, Siwei; Hu, Xing

2017-01-01

Graphical abstract: The CdS/MIL-53(Fe) photocatalyst has been synthesized by a facile two-step solvothermal method and applied for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant RhB under visible light irradiation. - Highlights: • A novel CdS/MIL-53(Fe) photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via a facile two-step solvothermal method. • CdS/MIL-53(Fe) exhibited an enhanced visible-light photocatalytic degradation of RhB in water. • The mechanisms for the formation of CdS/MIL-53(Fe) and photocatalytic degradation of RhB were proposed. - Abstract: A novel composite, CdS/MIL-53(Fe), was successfully fabricated via a facile solvothermal method and characterized with XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FT-IR and UV–vis DRS. The results showed that the fabrication was able to result in a good dispersion of CdS nanoparticles onto MIL-53(Fe). The photocatalytic activities of the as-synthesized composite were investigated through the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) in water under visible light irradiation. It was found that the composite prepared at the mass ratio of CdS to MIL-53(Fe) of 1.5:1 displayed the highest photocatalytic activity. An approximately 92.5% of photocatalytic degradation of RhB was achieved at 0.5 g/L of 1.5-CdS/MIL dosage, 10 mg/L of initial RhB concentration and 23 °C of reaction temperature under visible light irradiation. The RhB photocatalytic degradation followed well the first-order kinetics equation and the increased catalyst dosage and optimal initial RhB concentration were responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation. Quenching tests revealed that the predominant free radicals in the CdS/MIL-(53)-RhB aq -visible light system was O 2 − ·; nevertheless, h + and ·OH also contributed to a certain degree. The enhanced photocatalytic performance was ascribed to the formation of heterojunction structure between CdS and MIL-53(Fe) which significantly suppressed the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the

Photocatalytic removal of perfluoroalkyl substances from water and wastewater: Mechanism, kinetics and controlling factors.

Science.gov (United States)

Xu, Bentuo; Ahmed, Mohammad Boshir; Zhou, John L; Altaee, Ali; Wu, Minghong; Xu, Gang

2017-12-01

This review focuses on heterogeneous photocatalysis of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which are of worldwide concern as emerging persistent organic contaminants. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is an effective and advanced technology for PFAS removal from water with relatively high efficacy. During photocatalysis, various short chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA) are produced as intermediates and the efficacy is related to the photo-generated hole (h + ) and photo-generated electron (e - ). PFAS photodegradation in water under UV irradiation is most effective by using In 2 O 3 as the catalyst, followed by Ga 2 O 3 and TiO 2 . Significantly, modifying the chemical composition or morphology of the catalyst can improve its efficacy for PFAS removal. In 2 O 3 porous nanoplates were found to have the best performance of 100% PFAS decomposition under UV light with rate constant (k t ) and half-time (τ 1/2 ) of 0.158 min -1 and 4.4 min, respectively. Catalysts perform well in acidic solution and increasing temperature to a certain extent. The photocatalytic performance is reduced when treating wastewater due to the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM), with the catalysts following the order: needle-like Ga 2 O 3  > In 2 O 3  > TiO 2 . Future studies should focus on the development of novel photocatalysts, and their immobilization and application for PFAS removal in wastewater. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of the preparation method on the structure and the visible-light photocatalytic activity of Ag2CrO4

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Difa Xu

2014-05-01

Full Text Available Silver chromate (Ag2CrO4 photocatalysts are prepared by microemulsion, precipitation, and hydrothermal methods, in order to investigate the effect of preparation methods on the structure and the visible-light photocatalytic activity. It is found that the photocatalytic activity of the prepared Ag2CrO4was highly dependent on the preparation methods. The sample prepared by microemulsion method exhibits the highest photocatalytic efficiency on the degradation of methylene blue (MB under visible-light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be ascribed to the smaller particle size, higher surface area, relatively stronger light absorption, and blue-shift absorption edge, which result in the adsorption of more MB molecules, a shorter diffusion process of more photogenerated excitons, and a stronger oxidation ability of the photogenerated holes. Considering the universalities of microemulsion, precipitation, and hydrothermal methods, this work may also provide a prototype for the comparative study of semiconductor based photocatalysis for water purification and environmental remediation.

Synthesis of Ag-loaded SrTiO_3/TiO_2 heterostructure nanotube arrays for enhanced photocatalytic performances

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hu, Zijun; Chen, Da; Zhan, Xiaqiang; Wang, Fang; Qin, Laishun; Huang, Yuexiang

2017-01-01

In this work, the effect of loading Ag nanoparticles on the photocatalytic activity of SrTiO_3/TiO_2 nanotube arrays (TNTAs) was investigated. TNTAs were partially transformed to SrTiO_3 through a hydrothermal treatment, which could preserve the tubular structure of TNTAs, and then, Ag nanoparticles were well deposited on the surface of SrTiO_3/TNTAs heterostructure by a chemical reduction process. Compared to the TNTAs sample, the Ag-loaded SrTiO_3/TNTAs sample showed significantly enhanced photocatalytic activities for photodegradation of rhodamine B. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ag-loaded SrTiO_3/TNTAs could be attributed to the increased optical absorption as well as the efficient charge transfer and separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs induced by the SrTiO_3/TNTAs heterojunction and the Schottky barrier between metallic Ag and SrTiO_3/TNTAs. On the basis of the trapping experiments, the possible photocatalytic mechanism was also discussed. (orig.)

Reusability Performance of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic Degradation of POME

Science.gov (United States)

Zarifah Zainuri, Nur; Hanis Hayati Hairom, Nur; Abu Bakar Sidik, Dilaelyana; Misdan, Nurasyikin; Yusof, Norhaniza; Wahab Mohammad, Abdul

2018-03-01

Performance and reusability of different zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-PVP and ZnO-PEG) for photocatalytic degradation of palm-mill oil effluent (POME) has been studied. The nanoparticles properties were characterised with fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM results show that ZnO-PEG nanoparticles exhibit the smaller size than ZnO-PVP with less agglomeration. It was found that ZnO-PEG shows better effectiveness than ZnO-PVP in reducing turbidity, colour and increasing the dissolved oxygen (DO). By using two types of reusability methods: (a) oven drying (b) hot water rinsing, the oven drying method portrayed the most efficient route for POME treatment. This research would be a solution to the palm oil industry for photocatalyst recovering as well as reduction of the chemical usage in order to meet the development of advanced and greener technologies.

Effect of sacrificial agents on the dispersion of metal cocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Science.gov (United States)

Cao, Shaowen; Shen, Baojia; Huang, Qian; Chen, Zhe

2018-06-01

Surface photodeposition of noble metal cocatalyst has been regarded as an effective approach to facilitate the separation of charge carriers and reduce the over-potential of water reduction, thus to enhance the photocatalytic H2-production activities of semiconductor photocatalyst. Herein, the influences of sacrificial agents used in the photodeposition process on the dispersion of noble metal nanoparticles are investigated, via a series of technique of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution test, microstructure analysis and photoelectrochemical measurement. As a result, the sacrificial agents are found to show large impact on the loading amount, particle size and distribution of different metals on the surface of g-C3N4. The real loading amount of Pt and Au is higher in methanol solution than that in triethanolamine solution. Better distribution and smaller size of Pt nanoparticles are achieved in the presence of methanol; while better distribution and smaller size of Au nanoparticles are achieved in the presence of triethanolamine. As a result, quite different charge transfer ability is achieved for the synthesized Pt and Au decorated g-C3N4, which subsequently leads to disparate photocatalytic activities of the same g-C3N4 photocatalyst under various conditions. The finding in this work indicates that the valid deposition content, particle size and distribution of metal cocatalysts should be carefully taken into account when comparing the photocatalytic activities among various samples.

Thickness Dependent on Photocatalytic Activity of Hematite Thin Films

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Yen-Hua Chen

2012-01-01

Full Text Available Hematite (Fe2O3 thin films with different thicknesses are fabricated by the rf magnetron sputtering deposition. The effects of film thicknesses on the photocatalytic activity of hematite films have been investigated. Hematite films possess a polycrystalline hexagonal structure, and the band gap decreases with an increase of film thickness. Moreover, all hematite films exhibit good photocatalytic ability under visible-light irradiation; the photocatalytic activity of hematite films increases with the increasing film thickness. This is because the hematite film with a thicker thickness has a rougher surface, providing more reaction sites for photocatalysis. Another reason is a lower band gap of a hematite film would generate more electron-hole pairs under visible-light illumination to enhance photocatalytic efficiency. Experimental data are well fitted with Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model. The photocatalytic rate constant of hematite films ranges from 0.052 to 0.068 min-1. This suggests that the hematite film is a superior photocatalyst under visible-light irradiation.

Guidelines to Develop Efficient Photocatalysts for Water Splitting

KAUST Repository

Garcia Esparza, Angel T.

2016-04-03

Photocatalytic overall water splitting is the only viable solar-to-fuel conversion technology. The research discloses an investigation process wherein by dissecting the photocatalytic water splitting device, electrocatalysts, and semiconductor photocatalysts can be independently studied, developed and optimized. The assumption of perfect catalysts leads to the realization that semiconductors are the limiting factor in photocatalysis. This dissertation presents a guideline for efficient photocatalysis using semiconductor particles developed from idealized theoretical simulations. No perfect catalysts exist; then the discussion focus on the development of efficient non-noble metal electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from water reduction. Tungsten carbide (WC) is selective for the catalysis of hydrogen without the introduction of the reverse reaction of water formation, which is critical to achieving photocatalytic overall water splitting as demonstrated in this work. Finally, photoelectrochemistry is used to characterize thoroughly Cu-based p-type semiconductors with potential for large-scale manufacture. Artificial photosynthesis may be achieved by following the recommendations herein presented.

Simple hydrothermal synthesis of metal oxides coupled nanocomposites: Structural, optical, magnetic and photocatalytic studies

Science.gov (United States)

Ganeshraja, Ayyakannu Sundaram; Clara, Antoni Samy; Rajkumar, Kanniah; Wang, Yanjie; Wang, Yu; Wang, Junhu; Anbalagan, Krishnamoorthy

2015-10-01

The present article is focused on recent developments toward the preparation of room temperature ferromagnetic nanocomposites using better photocatalytic performance. These nanocomposites were successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal method and their molecular formulas were confirmed as Ti0.90Sn0.10O2 (S1), 0.2CuO-Ti0.73Sn0.06Cu0.21O2-δ (S2), and Ti0.82Sn0.09Fe0.09O2-δ (S3). The ICP, XRD, DRS, FTIR, Raman, XAFS, XPS, EPR, SEM-EDX, HRSEM, HRTEM, photoluminescence and vibrating sample magnetometric measurements were employed to characterize the phase structures, morphologies, optical and magnetic properties of the photocatalysts. The local structures of Sn4+ and Fe3+ were confirmed by 119Sn and 57Fe Mössbauer analysis. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange in water under visible light irradiation. Among the samples, tin doped TiO2 (S1) showed the best photocatalytic performance and stability.

Stabilization of nanosized titanium dioxide by cyclodextrin polymers and its photocatalytic effect on the degradation of wastewater pollutants.

Science.gov (United States)

Agócs, Tamás Zoltán; Puskás, István; Varga, Erzsébet; Molnár, Mónika; Fenyvesi, Éva

2016-01-01

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are considered highly competitive water treatment technologies for the removal of organic pollutants. Among AOP techniques, photocatalysis has recently been the most widely studied. Our aims were to investigate how the dispersion of nanosized titanium dioxide (nanoTiO 2 ) applied in photodegradation-based procedures can be stabilized with cyclodextrins in order to obtain a new, more efficient photocatalyst for the purification of waters polluted by xenobiotics applying UV irradiation. During our work, on the one hand, we studied the behavior and stability of nanoTiO 2 in cyclodextrin solutions. On the other hand, we used various monomer and polymer cyclodextrin derivatives, and assessed the options for nanoTiO 2 stabilization in the presence of various salts and tap water on the basis of turbidity tests. The physical stability of nanoTiO 2 dispersions is diminished in the presence of the salts found in tap water (and occurring also in surface waters and ground water) and they are precipitated immediately. This colloidal instability can be improved by cyclodextrin derivatives. Based on the results of our studies we have selected carboxymethyl β-cyclodextrin polymer (CMBCD-P) for stabilization of nanoTiO 2 dispersions. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and ibuprofen as model organic pollutants in various media (distilled water, NaCl solution and tap water) has been studied using nanoTiO 2 as catalyst stabilized by CMBCD-P. CMBCD-P itself showed a catalytic effect on the UV degradation of methylene blue. In addition to enhancing the colloid stability of nanoTiO 2 CMBCD-P showed also synergistic effects in catalyzing the photodecomposition process of the dye. On the other hand, ibuprofen as a model pharmaceutical, a pollutant of emerging concern (EP), was protected by CMBCD-P against the photocatalytic degradation showing that inclusion complex formation can result in opposite effects depending on the structure of the

Stabilization of nanosized titanium dioxide by cyclodextrin polymers and its photocatalytic effect on the degradation of wastewater pollutants

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Tamás Zoltán Agócs

2016-12-01

Full Text Available Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs are considered highly competitive water treatment technologies for the removal of organic pollutants. Among AOP techniques, photocatalysis has recently been the most widely studied. Our aims were to investigate how the dispersion of nanosized titanium dioxide (nanoTiO2 applied in photodegradation-based procedures can be stabilized with cyclodextrins in order to obtain a new, more efficient photocatalyst for the purification of waters polluted by xenobiotics applying UV irradiation. During our work, on the one hand, we studied the behavior and stability of nanoTiO2 in cyclodextrin solutions. On the other hand, we used various monomer and polymer cyclodextrin derivatives, and assessed the options for nanoTiO2 stabilization in the presence of various salts and tap water on the basis of turbidity tests. The physical stability of nanoTiO2 dispersions is diminished in the presence of the salts found in tap water (and occurring also in surface waters and ground water and they are precipitated immediately. This colloidal instability can be improved by cyclodextrin derivatives. Based on the results of our studies we have selected carboxymethyl β-cyclodextrin polymer (CMBCD-P for stabilization of nanoTiO2 dispersions. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and ibuprofen as model organic pollutants in various media (distilled water, NaCl solution and tap water has been studied using nanoTiO2 as catalyst stabilized by CMBCD-P. CMBCD-P itself showed a catalytic effect on the UV degradation of methylene blue. In addition to enhancing the colloid stability of nanoTiO2 CMBCD-P showed also synergistic effects in catalyzing the photodecomposition process of the dye. On the other hand, ibuprofen as a model pharmaceutical, a pollutant of emerging concern (EP, was protected by CMBCD-P against the photocatalytic degradation showing that inclusion complex formation can result in opposite effects depending on the structure

Removal of tributyltin from contaminated seawater by combinations of photolytic and TiO2 mediated photocatalytic processes

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Muff, Jens; Simonsen, Morten Enggrob; Søgaard, Erik Gydesen

2017-01-01

Harbour sediment contaminated with tributyltin (TBT) is a worldwide problem and treatment of TBT contaminated seawater is an issue during dredging operations. This study presents results from photolytic and photocatalytic treatment experiments where the influence of the seawater matrix, different...

High performance nano-titania photocatalytic paper composite. Part II: Preparation and characterization of natural zeolite-based nano-titania composite sheets and study of their photocatalytic activity

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ko, Seonghyuk; Fleming, Paul D.; Joyce, Margaret; Ari-Gur, Pnina

2009-01-01

A novel paper composite with high photocatalytic performance was fabricated using natural zeolite (clinoptilolite)-based nanosized TiO 2 . Photocatalytic materials, from sol-gel derived TiO 2 colloids to its coupling with zeolite, have been designed, prepared and characterized. As-prepared anatase TiO 2 on zeolite particles were readily used in photocatalytic paper, which revealed zeolite-TiO 2 particles dispersed on a dense network of fibers with microvoids. Natural zeolite-based TiO 2 composite sheets described here decomposed gaseous toluene very effectively after UV irradiation and its removal efficiency was higher than that accomplished by photocatalytic paper made with Degussa P25 TiO 2 or Ahlstrom commercial photocatalytic non-woven paper.

Room-temperature synthesis of nanoporous 1D microrods of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with highly enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability.

Science.gov (United States)

Pawar, Rajendra C; Kang, Suhee; Park, Jung Hyun; Kim, Jong-Ho; Ahn, Sunghoon; Lee, Caroline S

2016-08-08

A one-dimensional (1D) nanostructure having a porous network is an exceptional photocatalytic material to generate hydrogen (H2) and decontaminate wastewater using solar energy. In this report, we synthesized nanoporous 1D microrods of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) via a facile and template-free chemical approach at room temperature. The use of concentrated acids induced etching and lift-off because of strong oxidation and protonation. Compared with the bulk g-C3N4, the porous 1D microrod structure showed five times higher photocatalytic degradation performance toward methylene blue dye (MB) under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic H2 evolution of the 1D nanostructure (34 μmol g(-1)) was almost 26 times higher than that of the bulk g-C3N4 structure (1.26 μmol g(-1)). Additionally, the photocurrent stability of this nanoporous 1D morphology over 24 h indicated remarkable photocorrosion resistance. The improved photocatalytic activities were attributed to prolonged carrier lifetime because of its quantum confinement effect, effective separation and transport of charge carriers, and increased number of active sites from interconnected nanopores throughout the microrods. The present 1D nanostructure would be highly suited for photocatalytic water purification as well as water splitting devices. Finally, this facile and room temperature strategy to fabricate the nanostructures is very cost-effective.

ZnO-graphene quantum dots heterojunctions for natural sunlight-driven photocatalytic environmental remediation

Science.gov (United States)

Kumar, Suneel; Dhiman, Ankita; Sudhagar, Pitchaimuthu; Krishnan, Venkata

2018-07-01

In this work, we report the formation of heterojunctions comprising of graphene quantum dots (GQD) decorated ZnO nanorods (NR) and its use as efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation. The heterojunctions has been designed to be active both in the UV and visible light regions and anticipated utilize the maximum part of the solar light spectrum. In this view, we examined the photocatalytic performance of our heterojunctions towards the degradation of colored pollutant (methylene blue (MB) dye) and a colorless pollutant (carbendazim (CZ) fungicide) under sunlight irradiation. Compared to bare photocatalyst ZnO and GQD, the heterojunction with 2 wt% of GQD (ZGQD2) showed the best photocatalytic activity by effectively degrading (about 95%) of organic pollutants (MB and CZ) from water within a short span of 70 min. The superior photocatalytic activity of these ZnO-GQD heterojunctions could be attributed to efficient charge carrier separation lead suppressed recombination rate at photocatalyst interfaces. In addition to the enhanced light absorption from UV to visible region, the high specific surface area of ZGQD2 heterojunction (353.447 m2 g-1) also imparts strong adsorption capacity for pollutants over catalyst surface, resulting in high photoactivity. Based on the obtained results, band gap alignment at ZnO-GQD heterojunction and active species trapping experiments, a plausible mechanism is proposed for photocatalytic reaction. The excellent photostability and recyclability of the ZnO-GQD heterojunctions fostering as promising photocatalyst candidate for environmental remediation applications.

A Review of Heterogeneous Photocatalysis for Water and Surface Disinfection

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

John Anthony Byrne

2015-03-01

Full Text Available Photo-excitation of certain semiconductors can lead to the production of reactive oxygen species that can inactivate microorganisms. The mechanisms involved are reviewed, along with two important applications. The first is the use of photocatalysis to enhance the solar disinfection of water. It is estimated that 750 million people do not have accessed to an improved source for drinking and many more rely on sources that are not safe. If one can utilize photocatalysis to enhance the solar disinfection of water and provide an inexpensive, simple method of water disinfection, then it could help reduce the risk of waterborne disease. The second application is the use of photocatalytic coatings to combat healthcare associated infections. Two challenges are considered, i.e., the use of photocatalytic coatings to give “self-disinfecting” surfaces to reduce the risk of transmission of infection via environmental surfaces, and the use of photocatalytic coatings for the decontamination and disinfection of medical devices. In the final section, the development of novel photocatalytic materials for use in disinfection applications is reviewed, taking account of materials, developed for other photocatalytic applications, but which may be transferable for disinfection purposes.

Photocatalytic Oxidation in Drinking Water Treatment Using Hypochlorite and Titanium Dioxide

NARCIS (Netherlands)

El-Kalliny, A.S.M.

2013-01-01

The main focus of this thesis is to study the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) of water pollutants via UV/hypochlorite (homogeneous AOPs), and UV solar light/TiO2 (heterogeneous AOPs) in which the highly oxidative hydroxyl radicals (•OH) are produced. These radicals are capable of destructing the

Temperature dependence and P/Ti ratio in phosphoric acid treatment of titanium dioxide and powder properties.

Science.gov (United States)

Onoda, H; Matsukura, A

2015-02-01

Titanium dioxide has photocatalytic activity and is used as a white pigment for cosmetics. A certain degree of sebum on the skin is decomposed by the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. In this work, titanium dioxide was shaken with phosphoric acid to synthesize a white pigment for cosmetics. Titanium dioxide was treated with 0.1 mol/L of phosphoric acid at various P/Ti molar ratios, and then shaken in hot water for 1 h. The chemical composition, powder properties, photocatalytic activity, colour phase, and smoothness of the obtained powder were studied. The obtained materials indicated XRD peaks of titanium dioxide, however the peaks diminished subsequent to phosphoric acid treatment. The samples included small particles with sub-micrometer size. The photocatalytic activity of the obtained powders decreased, decomposing less sebum on the skin. Samples prepared at high P/Ti ratio with high shaking temperature indicated low whiteness in in L*a*b* colour space. The shaking and heating temperature and P/Ti ratio had influence on the smoothness of the obtained materials. Phosphoric acid treatment of titanium dioxide is an effective method to inhibit photocatalytic activity for a white pigment. © 2014 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Société Française de Cosmétologie.

Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of copper-doped titanium oxide-zinc oxide heterojunction for methyl orange degradation

Science.gov (United States)

Dorraj, Masoumeh; Alizadeh, Mahdi; Sairi, Nor Asrina; Basirun, Wan Jefrey; Goh, Boon Tong; Woi, Pei Meng; Alias, Yatimah

2017-08-01

A novel Cu-doped TiO2 coupled with ZnO nanoparticles (Cu-TiO2/ZnO) was prepared by sol-gel method and subsequent precipitation for methyl orange (MO) photodegradation under visible light irradiation. The compositions and shapes of the as-prepared Cu-TiO2/ZnO nanocomposites were characterized by photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller adsorption isotherm techniques. The Cu-TiO2/ZnO nanocomposites showed considerably higher photocatalytic activity for MO removal from water under visible light irradiation than that of single-doped semiconductors. The effects of Cu-TiO2 and ZnO mass ratios on the photocatalytic reaction were also studied. A coupling percentage of 30% ZnO exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Cu-TiO2/ZnO nanocomposites was mainly attributed to heterojunction formation, which allowed the efficient separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs at the interface. Moreover, these novel nanocomposites could be recycled during MO degradation in a three-cycle experiment without evident deactivation, which is particularly important in environmental applications.

Water purification by corona-above-water treatment

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Pemen, A.J.M.; Heesch, van E.J.M.; Hoeben, W.F.L.M.

2012-01-01

Advanced oxidation technologies (AOT), such as non-thermal plasmas, are considered to be very promising for the purpose of water treatment. The goal of this study is to test the feasibility of "Corona-above-water" technology for the treatment of drinking water. Experiments have been performed on the

Functionalized nanostructures for enhanced photocatalytic performance under solar light

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Liejin Guo

2014-07-01

Full Text Available Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water has been considered to be one of the most promising solar-to-hydrogen conversion technologies. In the last decade, various functionalized nanostructures were designed to address the primary requirements for an efficient photocatalytic generation of hydrogen by using solar energy: visible-light activity, chemical stability, appropriate band-edge characteristics, and potential for low-cost fabrication. Our aim is to present a short review of our recent attempts that center on the above requirements. We begin with a brief introduction of photocatalysts coupling two or more semiconductors, followed by a further discussion of the heterostructures with improved matching of both band structures and crystal lattices. We then elaborate on the heterostructure design of the targeted materials from macroscopic regulation of compositions and phases, to the more precise control at the nanoscale, i.e., materials with the same compositions but different phases with certain band alignment. We conclude this review with perspectives on nanostructure design that might direct future research of this technology.

Synergistic Removal of Humic Acid in Water by Coupling Adsorption and Photocatalytic Degradation Using TiO2/Coconut Shell Powder Composite

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jong Kyu Kim

2016-01-01

Full Text Available The feasibility of applying nanoscale TiO2/coconut shell powder (TCNSP composite to remove HA in aqueous solution was evaluated, and the optimization of the photocatalytic systems using newly developed TCNSP composite was performed. The developed TCNSP composite has high specific surface area (i.e., 454 m2/g and great porosity (i.e., 66.9% with pore size of less than 5 μm. High removal efficiencies (≥95% of HA were observed due to the significant synergistic effects by coupling adsorption and photocatalytic reaction of TCNSP composite. As the initial concentration of HA increased, the degradation rate (Kapp decreased due to HA sorption saturation to the surface of TCNSP composite and the photon interception by HA molecules in aqueous solution. Since the increased loading amount of TCNSP composite enhanced the number of active sites, Kapp values increased until the optimum loading amount of TCNSP composite. As pH values increased, HA removal efficiency decreased due to increasing electrostatic repulsion between HA and TCNSP composite. Based on the response surface methodology, higher HA removal efficiencies were obtained with acidic condition, longer reaction time, and appropriated loading amount of TCNSP. Further pilot-scale study is in progress using TCNSP composite combined with UVC to remove HA from large amounts of surface water (i.e., 200 m3/d.

Characterizing Nanoparticles Reactivity: Structure-Photocatalytic Activity Relationship

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Piella, J; Bastús, N G; Casals, E; Puntes, V

2013-01-01

Nanoparticles are reactive, and their final interactions with the surrounding media are ultimately determined by their reactivity, which in turns depends on the nanoparticles morphology, surface chemistry and environment in which they are embedded. One simple and informative approach for the study of the reactivity of nanoparticles is the determination of their photocatalytic activity. In the present work, we briefly summarize the importance of different parameters such as the size, shape and agglomeration state on the photocatalytic activity of colloidal inorganic nanoparticles. The study of the use of nanoparticles as photocatalyts is relevant not only for its potential applications in environmental remediation issues but also it can provide relevant information about the role of these parameters at the nanoscale.

Removal of MCs by Bi2O2CO3: adsorption and the potential of photocatalytic degradation.

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Yujiao; Cao, Yanqiu; Li, Hongmei; Gong, Aijun; Han, Jintao; Qian, Zhen; Chao, Wenran

2018-04-01

Microcystins (MCs) is a kind of hepatotoxin, which is the secondary metabolite of cyanobacteria. Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 (BOC) is a kind of cheap and nontoxic semiconductor material. BOC was synthetized by solvothermal method and then microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and microcystin-RR (MC-RR) were removed by BOC, through adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. When the dosage of BOC is 6 g/L, the MC-LR and MC-RR in the natural water sample can be completely adsorbed in 30 min and then after 12 h irradiation, MC-LR and MC-RR were photocatalytically degraded by BOC.

Biosorption treatment of brackish water

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rizwan, M.; Ali, M.; Tariq, M.I.; Rehman, F.U.; Karim, A.; Makshoof, M.; Farooq, R.

2010-01-01

Biosorptivity of different agricultural wastes have been evaluated for the treatment of brackish water and a new method, based on the principle of bio-sorption has been described. Wastes of the Saccharum officinarum, Moringa oleifera, Triticum aestivcum and Oryza sativa have been used in raw forms as well as after converting them into ash and activated carbon as biosorbents for treatment of brackish water in this study. Samples of brackish water have been analyzed before and after treatment for quality control parameters of water. A significant Improvement has been observed in quality control parameters of water after treatment. pH of the water samples slightly increased from 7.68 to 7.97 with different treatments. A substantial decrease in conductivity,. TDS, TH, concentrations of cations and anions was observed in the samples of brackish water after treatment with different biosorbents. (author)

U-Shaped Fiber-Optic Detection Elements for Investigation of Photocatalytic Decomposition of Toluene Dissolved in Water

Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

Matějec, Vlastimil; Bartoň, Ivo; Mrázek, Jan; Podrazký, Ondřej

2014-01-01

Roč. 27, May (2014), s. 244-252 ISSN 2306-8515 R&D Projects: GA ČR GAP102/12/2361 Institutional support: RVO:67985882 Keywords : Toluene detection * Photocatalytic decomposition * U-Shaped fiber Subject RIV: JA - Electronics ; Optoelectronics, Electrical Engineering

Direct generation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles dispersion under supercritical conditions for photocatalytic active thermoplastic surfaces for microbiological inactivation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zydziak, Nicolas; Zanin, Maria-Helena Ambrosio; Trick, Iris; Hübner, Christof

2015-01-01

Thermoplastic poly(propylene) (PP) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) surfaces were coated with silica based films via the sol–gel process, containing titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) as photocatalyst. TiO 2 was previously synthesized via sol–gel and treated under supercritical conditions in water dispersions. The characterization of the TiO 2 dispersions was performed via disc centrifuge to determine the particle size and via Raman spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to characterize the crystallinity of TiO 2 . The synthesized TiO 2 dispersions and commercially available TiO 2 particles were incorporated in silica based films which were synthesized under acidic or basic conditions, leading to dense or porous films respectively. The morphology of the films was characterized via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The incorporation of synthesized TiO 2 in the coating led to photocatalytically more active thermoplastic surfaces than films formulated with commercially available TiO 2 as determined via dye discoloration test. A microbiological test performed with Sarcina lutea confirmed this result and showed an inactivation factor of 6 (99.9999%) after 24 h UV irradiation, for synthesized TiO 2 incorporated in acidic formulated silica layer on ABS surfaces. - Highlights: • We report about photocatalytic layers formulated on thermoplastic surfaces. • We synthesized silica layer and TiO 2 via sol–gel and supercritical treatment. • Amorphous, crystalline and commercial dispersions were generated and characterized. • The morphology of dense and porous photocatalytic layers is observed via SEM. • Discoloration and microbiological tests correlate activity and surface morphology

Photocatalytic performance of Sn-doped TiO2 nanostructured thin films for photocatalytic degradation of malachite green dye under UV and VIS-lights

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sayilkan, F.; Asiltuerk, M.; Tatar, P.; Kiraz, N.; Sener, S.; Arpac, E.; Sayilkan, H.

2008-01-01

Sn-doped and undoped nano-TiO 2 particles have been synthesized by hydrotermal process without acid catalyst at 225 deg. C in 1 h. Nanostructure-TiO 2 based thin films, contain at different solid ratio of TiO 2 in coating, have been prepared on glass surfaces by spin-coating technique. The structure, surface morphology and optical properties of the thin films and the particles have been investigated by element analysis and XRD, BET and UV/VIS/NIR techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the films was tested for degradation of malachite green dye in solution under UV and VIS-lights. The results showed that the hydrothermally synthesized nano-TiO 2 particles are fully anatase crystalline form and are easily dispersed in water, the coated surfaces have nearly super-hydrophilic properties and, the doping of transition metal ion efficiently improved the photocatalytic performance of the TiO 2 thin film. The results also proved that malachite green is decomposed catalytically due to the pseudo first-order reaction kinetics

TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS ASSESSMENT OF THE DRINKING WATER TREATMENT AT TARGU-MURES WATER TREATMENT PLANT

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

CORNELIA DIANA HERTIA

2011-03-01

Full Text Available This paper intends to assess the technological process of obtaining drinking water at Targu-Mures water treatment plant. The assessment was performed before changing the technological process and four months were chosen to be analized during 2008: January, April, July and October for its efficiency analysis on treatment steps. Mures River is the water source for the water treatment plant, being characterized by unsteady flow and quality parameters with possible important variability in a very short period of time. The treatment technological process is the classic one, represented by coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, but also prechlorination was constantly applied as additional treatment during 2008. Results showed that for the measured parameters, raw water at the water treatment plant fits into class A3 for surface waters, framing dictated by the bacterial load. The treatment processes efficiency is based on the performance calculation for sedimentation, filtration, global and for disinfection, a better conformation degree of technological steps standing out in January in comparison to the other three analyzed months. A variable non-compliance of turbidity and residual chlorine levels in the disinfected water was observed constantly. Previous treatment steps managed to maintain a low level of oxidisability, chlorine consumption and residual chlorine levels being also low. 12% samples were found inconsistent with the national legislation in terms of bacteriological quality. Measures for the water treatment plant retechnologization are taken primarily for hyperchlorination elimination, which currently constitutes a discomfort factor (taste, smell, and a generating factor of chlorination by-products.

Lab-on-a-chip based total-phosphorus analysis device utilizing a photocatalytic reaction

Science.gov (United States)

Jung, Dong Geon; Jung, Daewoong; Kong, Seong Ho

2018-02-01

A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for total phosphorus (TP) analysis was fabricated for water quality monitoring. Many commercially available TP analysis systems used to estimate water quality have good sensitivity and accuracy. However, these systems also have many disadvantages such as bulky size, complex pretreatment processes, and high cost, which limit their application. In particular, conventional TP analysis systems require an indispensable pretreatment step, in which the fluidic analyte is heated to 120 °C for 30 min to release the dissolved phosphate, because many phosphates are soluble in water at a standard temperature and pressure. In addition, this pretreatment process requires elevated pressures of up to 1.1 kg cm-2 in order to prevent the evaporation of the heated analyte. Because of these limiting conditions required by the pretreatment processes used in conventional systems, it is difficult to miniaturize TP analysis systems. In this study, we employed a photocatalytic reaction in the pretreatment process. The reaction was carried out by illuminating a photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO2) surface formed in a microfluidic channel with ultraviolet (UV) light. This pretreatment process does not require elevated temperatures and pressures. By applying this simplified, photocatalytic-reaction-based pretreatment process to a TP analysis system, greater degrees of freedom are conferred to the design and fabrication of LOC devices for TP monitoring. The fabricated LOC device presented in this paper was characterized by measuring the TP concentration of an unknown sample, and comparing the results with those measured by a conventional TP analysis system. The TP concentrations of the unknown sample measured by the proposed LOC device and the conventional TP analysis system were 0.018 mgP/25 mL and 0.019 mgP/25 mL, respectively. The experimental results revealed that the proposed LOC device had a performance comparable to the conventional bulky TP analysis

Closed recirculation-Water treatment

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hamza, Hamza B.; Ben Ali, Salah; Saad, Mohamed A.; Traish, Massud R.

2005-01-01

This water treatment is a practical work applied in the center, for a closed recirculation-water system. The system had experienced a serious corrosion problem, due to the use of inadequate water. This work includes chemical preparation for the system. Water treatment, special additives, and follow-up, which resulted in the stability of the case. This work can be applied specially for closed recirculation warm, normal, and chilled water. (author)

Constructing a MoS2 QDs/CdS Core/Shell Flowerlike Nanosphere Hierarchical Heterostructure for the Enhanced Stability and Photocatalytic Activity

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Shijing Liang

2016-02-01

Full Text Available MoS2 quantum dots (QDs/CdS core/shell nanospheres with a hierarchical heterostructure have been prepared by a simple microwave hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples are characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM, UV-VIS diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS and N2-sorption in detail. The photocatalytic activities of the samples are evaluated by water splitting into hydrogen. Results show that the as-prepared MoS2 QDs/CdS core/shell nanospheres with a diameter of about 300 nm are composed of the shell of CdS nanorods and the core of MoS2 QDs. For the photocatalytic reaction, the samples exhibit a high stability of the photocatalytic activity and a much higher hydrogen evolution rate than the pure CdS, the composite prepared by a physical mixture, and the Pt-loaded CdS sample. In addition, the stability of CdS has also been greatly enhanced. The effect of the reaction time on the formations of nanospheres, the photoelectric properties and the photocatalytic activities of the samples has been investigated. Finally, a possible photocatalytic reaction process has also been proposed.

Effect of cold plasma pre-treatment on photocatalytic activity of 3D fabric loaded with nano-photocatalysts: Response surface methodology

Science.gov (United States)

Ghoreishian, Seyed Majid; Badii, Khashayar; Norouzi, Mohammad; Malek, Kaveh

2016-03-01

In this study, the physico-chemical effects occasioned by the cold plasma discharge (CPD) on the photo-decolorization of Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) by 3D fabrics (spacer fabrics) loaded with ZnO:TiO2 nano-photocatalysts (nphs) were optimized via response surface methodology (RSM). CPD was employed to improve the surface characteristics of the spacer fabrics for nphs loading. Surface morphology and color variation were studied utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and CIE-Lab system, respectively. The effect of CPD on the wetting ability of the spacer fabrics was examined using dynamic adsorption measurement (DAM). Also, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was utilized to investigate the durability of the nphs on the spacer fabrics. All the experiments were implemented in a Box-Behnken design (BBD) with three independent variables (CPD treatment time, dye concentration and irradiation time) in order to optimize the decolorization of RO16. The anticipated values of the decolorization efficiency were found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental values (R2 = 0.9996, Adjusted R2 = 0.9992). The kinetic analysis demonstrated that the photocatalytic decolorization followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model. In conclusion, this heterogeneous photocatalytic process is capable of decolorizing and mineralizing azoic reactive dye in textile wastewater. Moreover, the results confirmed that RSM based on the BBD was a suitable method to optimize the operating conditions of RO16 degradation.

The effect of water on the performance of TiO2 in photocatalytic selective alkane oxidation

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Carneiro, J.T.; Carneiro, Joana T.; Yang, Chieh-Chao; Moulijn, Jacob A.; Mul, Guido

2011-01-01

Deactivation of TiO2 is hampering practical implementation of photocatalytic alternatives for energetically intensive selective oxidation processes. In the present study, humidification of the air stream is demonstrated to be a solution to this problem for well-defined photocatalysts, such as

Application of Advanced Oxidation Processes in Water Treatment%高级氧化技术在水处理中的应用

Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

黄洪勋; 孙亚全; 陈明发; 路艳艳

2012-01-01

This paper introduces the development and characteristics of advanced oxidation processes. Several advanced oxidation processes, such as chemical oxidation, photocatalytic oxidation, hydrothermal oxidation, high voltage pulsed discharge plasma and ultrasonic, and their application in water treatment are over- viewed. The application of advanced oxidation processes in water treatment will be more mature and be used more widely with the deepening of the research.%介绍了高级氧化技术的发展及其特点，并综述了化学氧化、光催化氧化、水热氧化以及高压脉冲放电等离子体、超声等高级氧化技术及其在水处理中的应用。随着对高级氧化技术不断深入的研究，其在水处理领域的应用将更加成熟并且越来越广泛。

The impact of alkali metal halide electron donor complexes in the photocatalytic degradation of pentachlorophenol

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Khuzwayo, Z., E-mail: zack.khuzwayo@up.ac.za; Chirwa, E.M.N

2017-01-05

Highlights: • Facilitation of photocatalysis using simple metal-halides as VB hole scavengers. • Recombination prevention by coupled valence and conduction band approaches. • Determination of anions critical levels beyond which process retardation occurs. • Determination of the photocatalytic process rate of reaction kinetics. - Abstract: The performance of photocatalytic oxidation of chemical pollutants is subjected to the presence of anion complexes in natural waters. This study investigated the influence of alkali metal (Na{sup +} (sodium), K{sup +} (potassium)) halides (Cl{sup −} (chloride), Br{sup −} (bromide), F{sup −} (fluoride)) as inorganic ion sources in the photocatalytic degradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in batch systems. It was found that the exclusive presence of halides in the absence of an electron acceptor adequately facilitated the photocatalyst process below critical levels of anion populations, where beyond the critical point the process was significantly hindered. Below the determined critical point, the performance in some cases near matches that of the facilitation of the photocatalytic process by exclusive oxygen, acting as an electron scavenger. The coupling of halide ions and oxygenation presented significantly improved photo-oxidation of PCP, this was confirmed by the inclusion of formic acid as a comparative electron donor. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic expression was used to calculate the performance rate kinetics. The probable impact of the halide anions was discussed with regards to the process of electron hole pair recombination prevention.

Water Supply Treatment Sustainability of Semambu Water Supply Treatment Process - Water Footprint Approach

Science.gov (United States)

Aziz, Edriyana A.; Malek, Marlinda Abdul; Moni, Syazwan N.; Hadi, Iqmal H.; Zulkifli, Nabil F.

2018-03-01

In this study, the assessment by using Water Footprint (WF) approach was conducted to assess water consumption within the water supply treatment process (WSTP) services of Semambu Water Treatment Plant (WTP). Identification of the type of WF at each stage of WSTP was carried out and later the WF accounting for the period 2010 – 2016 was calculated. Several factors that might influence the accounting such as population, and land use. The increasing value of total WF per year was due to the increasing water demand from population and land use activities. However, the pattern of rainfall intensity from the monsoonal changes was not majorly affected the total amount of WF per year. As a conclusion, if the value of WF per year keeps increasing due to unregulated development in addition to the occurrences of climate changing, the intake river water will be insufficient and may lead to water scarcity. The findings in this study suggest actions to reduce the WF will likely have a great impact on freshwater resources availability and sustainability.

New ZnO@Cardanol Porphyrin Composite Nanomaterials with Enhanced Photocatalytic Capability under Solar Light Irradiation

Science.gov (United States)

Ribeiro, Viviane Gomes Pereira; Marcelo, Ana Maria Pereira; da Silva, Kássia Teixeira; da Silva, Fernando Luiz Firmino; Mota, João Paulo Ferreira; do Nascimento, João Paulo Costa; Sombra, Antonio Sérgio Bezerra; Clemente, Claudenilson da Silva; Mazzetto, Selma Elaine

2017-01-01

This work describes the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic activity of new composite nanomaterials based on ZnO nanostructures impregnated by lipophlilic porphyrins derived from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). The obtained nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and steady-state photoluminescence spectra (PL). The results confirm nanostructures showing average diameter of 55 nm and an improved absorption in the visible region. Further, the FTIR analysis proved the existence of non-covalent interactions between the porphyrin molecules and ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of prepared photocatalysts was investigated by degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation and natural sunlight. It was demonstrated that the photocatalytic activity increases in the presence of the porphyrins and, also, depends on the irradiation source. The development of composite photocatalysts based on porphyrins derived from CNSL provides an alternative approach to eliminate efficiently toxic wastes from water under ambient conditions. PMID:28934117

New ZnO@Cardanol Porphyrin Composite Nanomaterials with Enhanced Photocatalytic Capability under Solar Light Irradiation

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Viviane Gomes Pereira Ribeiro

2017-09-01

Full Text Available This work describes the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic activity of new composite nanomaterials based on ZnO nanostructures impregnated by lipophlilic porphyrins derived from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL. The obtained nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM, and steady-state photoluminescence spectra (PL. The results confirm nanostructures showing average diameter of 55 nm and an improved absorption in the visible region. Further, the FTIR analysis proved the existence of non-covalent interactions between the porphyrin molecules and ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of prepared photocatalysts was investigated by degradation of rhodamine B (RhB in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation and natural sunlight. It was demonstrated that the photocatalytic activity increases in the presence of the porphyrins and, also, depends on the irradiation source. The development of composite photocatalysts based on porphyrins derived from CNSL provides an alternative approach to eliminate efficiently toxic wastes from water under ambient conditions.

Photocatalytic Pre-Oxidation of Arsenic (III) in Groundwater by a Visible-Light-Driven System with Magnetic Separating Characteristic

Science.gov (United States)

Cui, Y.; Liu, Y.; Peng, L.; Qin, Y.

2017-12-01

Arsenic was a typical toxic metalloid element and its contamination in groundwater was widely recognized as a global health problem, especially in north China, where people depended on groundwater as water resource. Arsenic was existed as As(III) in underground water, and has low affinity to the surface of various minerals and more toxic and more difficultly to be removed compared with As(V), so a pre-oxidation technology by transforming As (III) to As (V) is highly desirable. Electrochemical and oxidizing agents were traditional technology, which usually causes secondary pollution. A novel methodology is presented here, using prepared magnetic visible-light-driven nanomaterials as recyclable media to investigate As(III) pre-oxidation processing. Ag@AgCl core-shell nanowires were first synthesized by oxidation of Ag nanowires with moderate FeCl3, and exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity to As(III) with visible-light. The ratio of chloridization was proved to act as key effect on photocatalytic oxidation efficiency. Testing with simulated groundwater condition proved that pH, ionic strength and concentration of humic acid have obvious effects on Ag@AgCl photocatalytic ability. h+ and ·O2- were confirmed to be the main active species during the visible-light driven photocatalytic oxidation process for As(III) by trapping experiments with radical scavengers. Then Fe0 was introduced to prepare Fe-Ag nanowire and chloridized into Fe-Ag@AgCl to provide magnetic characteristic. The magnetic recycling and re-chloride experiments validated this visible-light-driven material has excellent stable and high reused ability as photocatalyst under visible light irradiation.

Real time, in situ observation of the photocatalytic inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zhang, Jingtao [School of Food and Bioengineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou 450002 (China); Environment Functional Materials Division, Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016 (China); Wang, Xiaoxin [Environment Functional Materials Division, Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016 (China); Li, Qi, E-mail: qili@imr.ac.cn [Environment Functional Materials Division, Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016 (China); Shang, Jian Ku [Environment Functional Materials Division, Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016 (China); Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 (United States)

2015-04-01

An in situ microscopy technique was developed to observe in real time the photocatalytic inactivation process of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) cells by palladium-modified nitrogen-doped titanium oxide (TiON/PdO) under visible light illumination. The technique was based on building a photocatalytic micro-reactor on the sample stage of a fluorescence/phase contrast microscopy capable of simultaneously providing the optical excitation to activate the photocatalyst in the micro-reactor and the illumination to acquire phase contrast images of the cells undergoing the photocatalytic inactivation process. Using TiON/PdO as an example, the technique revealed for the first time the vacuolar activities inside S. cerevisiae cells subjected to a visible light photocatalytic inactivation. The vacuoles responded to the photocatalytic attack by the first expansion of the vacuolar volume and then contraction, before the vacuole disappeared and the cell structure collapsed. Consistent with the aggregate behavior observed from the cell culture experiments, the transition in the vacuolar volume provided clear evidence that photocatalytic disinfection of S. cerevisiae cells started with an initiation period in which cells struggled to offset the photocatalytic damage and moved rapidly after the photocatalytic damage overwhelmed the defense mechanisms of the cells against oxidative attack. - Highlights: • Palladium-modified nitrogen-doped titanium oxidephotocatalyst (TiON/PdO) • Effective visible-light photocatalytic disinfection of yeast cells by TiON/PdO • Real time, in situ observation technique was developed for photocatalytic disinfection. • The fluorescence/phase contrast microscope with a photocatalytic micro-reactor • Yeast cell disinfection happened before the cell structure collapsed.

Photocatalytic water splitting: Materials design and high-throughput screening of molecular compositions

Science.gov (United States)

Khnayzer, Rony S.

, photons of low energy are converted into higher energy light using a process termed photon upconversion. Using this technique, low energy photons supplied by the sun can be converted into light of appropriate energy to trigger electronic transitions in high energy absorbing photoactive materials without any chemical modification of the latter. We have shown, that this technology is capable of upconverting visible sunlight to sensitize wide-bandgap semiconductors such as WO3, subsequently extending the photoaction of these materials to cover a larger portion of the solar spectrum. Besides the engineering of different compositions that serve as either sensitizers or catalysts in these solar energy conversion schemes, we have designed an apparatus for parallel high-throughput screening of these photocatalytic compositions. This combinatorial approach to solar fuels photocatalysis has already led to unprecedented fundamental understanding of the generation of hydrogen gas from pure water. The activity of a series of new Ru(II) sensitizers along with Co(II) molecular WRCs were optimized under visible light excitation utilizing different experimental conditions. The multi-step mechanism of activity of selected compositions was further elucidated by pump-probe transient absorption spectroscopy.

Surface Modification of Silica Nanoparticles with Titanium Tetraisopropoxide and Evaluation of their Photocatalytic Activity

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Leila Mazaheri

2012-12-01

Full Text Available Silica nanoparticles were modified with titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP via atwo-step sol-gel route. The modified silica nanoparticles were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA and EDAX elemental analysis. Photocatalytic activity of the modified nanocomposites was evaluated by photo-activated degradation of Rhodamine B (Rh.B dyestuff, as a colorant model, in distilled water. Reduction in Rh.B concentration in aqueous solution was evaluated by UV-visible spectroscopy and with the aid of visual observations. The FTIR spectroscopy results confirmed the formation of Ti-O-Si chemical bond on the surfaceof silica nanoparticles. TGA test results showed that the weight loss of the modified sample is due to deterioration of the alkoxy groups of the SiO2 surface. According to the results of EDAX elemental analysis, the presence of carbon and titanium in the structure of the modified samples and also reduction in oxygen levels are attributed to the chemical interactions due to surface chemical modification. Carbon detection in the composition can be attributed to the presence of isopropoxide in titanium tetraisopropoxide compound. The results also revealed that, with TiO2 grafting on the silica nanoparticles surface, absorption in UV region is increased and that the silica nanoparticles modified with titanate compound show photocatalytic characteristics and degradation ability of Rh.B dyestuff under UV light irradiation. It became also evident that the photocatalytic activity of the modified nanoparticles is less than TiO2 nanoparticles. However, by inclusion of modified silica nanoparticles into the polymeric coating, the photocatalytic properties of the coating can be established. Although modified silica nanoparticles have less photocatalytic activity compared to TiO2 nanoparticles, but they cause less damage to the polymer matrix.

Enhancing the photoresponse and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 by controllably tuning defects across {101} facets

Science.gov (United States)

Wan, Piaopiao; Hood, Zachary D.; Adhikari, Shiba P.; Xu, Yunfan; Yang, Shize; Wu, Sujuan

2018-03-01

Introducing defects into semiconductors with well-controlled exposed facets offers an effective route for the development of photocatalytic materials with greatly improved properties. Here, we report a facile ethylene glycol reduction procedure to make anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) with different concentrations of exposed {001} and {101} facets, leading to different surficial defects. TiO2 with increased concentrations of {101} facets shows a 5-fold improvement in photocurrent generation as well as improved photocatalytic activity towards water splitting under visible light irradiation. The improved activity is ascribed to the oxygen vacancies as well as the variable surface chemical states, which collectively induce a slower recombination rate of photo-induced electron-hole pairs. This work also highlights a feasible strategy to obtain the defective TiO2 and explore the synergistic effect of surface defects and different concentrations of exposed {001} and {101} facets for photocurrent and photocatalytic properties under visible light irradiation.

Light energy conversion by photocatalytic reaction

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fujishima, Akira; Yamagata, Sadamu [Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)

1989-01-01

The photocatalytic reaction, to be made to a suspended semiconductor powder system, was explained in summary. By using semiconductor as an electrode for the electrolyzation, etc. and projecting light on it to generate photoelectromotive force, a photocell can be composed. eg., by composing titanium oxide electrode, n-type semiconductor and platinum electrode, and irradiating light on the former electrode to generate electric current, oxygen and hydrogen are produced from the titanium oxide electrode and platinum electrode, respectively, which means the possibility of obtainment of clean energy from water as raw material. Such a wet type photocell, easy to produce, is active also in research. With white titanium oxide powder being suspended in water solution, hydrogen is produced by projecting light into it. Such a semiconductor is called photocatalyst, in which the research has been widely developed, mainly by taking notice of the hydrogen production on reduction side, since 1972. The photocatalysis using colloid and, differently, that doing heteropolyacid are also taken notice of. 24 refs., 6 figs.

Flexible graphene composites for removal of methylene blue dye-contaminant from water

Science.gov (United States)

Oliva, J.; Martinez, A. I.; Oliva, A. I.; Garcia, C. R.; Martinez-Luevanos, A.; Garcia-Lobato, M.; Ochoa-Valiente, R.; Berlanga, A.

2018-04-01

This work presents the use of flexible graphene composites (FGCs) fabricated by a casting method for the removal of Methylene blue (MB) dye from water. Those FGCs with elastic modulus of 15 MPa had enough mechanical resistance to support the Al2O3:Eu3+ and SrAl2O4:Bi3+ photocatalytic powders. After the incorporation of those powders in the FGCs, their photocatalytic activity was evaluated by monitoring the degradation of MB dye under solar irradiation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images demonstrate that the surface of FGCs with catalysts powders presents pores with sizes in the range of 15-40 μm, which favored the sunlight absorption by scattering effects. Moreover, X-Ray diffraction measurements confirmed the formation of the composites by displacements of their diffraction peaks. The MB dye was completely removed (by photocatalysis and by physical adsorption) from the water after 180 min and 270 min by using the FGCs with Al2O3:Eu3+ and SrAl2O4:Bi3+ catalysts respectively. Hence, the results of photocatalytic activity suggest that our FGCs could be used as an effective support of catalyst powders for the easy removal of dye contaminants in wastewater treatment plants.

Adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals by BiOCl{sub x}I{sub y} nanospheres in aqueous solution

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wang, Xiaoning; Bi, Wenlong; Zhai, Pingping [Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433 (China); Wang, Xiaobing [Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand (ICCF)-ENSCCF, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand (France); Li, Hongjing, E-mail: lihongjing@fudan.edu.cn [Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433 (China); Mailhot, Gilles [Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand (ICCF)-ENSCCF, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand (France); CNRS, UMR 6296, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, F-63171 Aubière (France); Dong, Wenbo, E-mail: wbdong@fudan.edu.cn [Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433 (China)

2016-01-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • BiOCl{sub x}I{sub y} nanospheres were synthesised by precipitation method in EG-H{sub 2}O. • BiOCl{sub x}I{sub y} catalyst possessed high surface area and small particle size. • BiOCl{sub 0.75}I{sub 0.25} showed the best photocatalytic ability of p-HPA and ACTP. • Degradation of p-HPA and ACTP primarily proceeded by O{sub 2}·{sup −}. - Abstract: BiOCl{sub x}I{sub y} nanospheres have been synthesised via precipitation method in ethylene glycol (EG)-water (H{sub 2}O) mixed solvent at 80 °C and ambient pressure. Results of BiOCl{sub x}I{sub y} characterisation showed that these composite materials well combined BiOCl with BiOI crystals, which displayed flower-like hierarchical nanospheres consisted of numerous nanosheets and possessed smaller particle size, higher surface area than those in previous papers. The great surface area resulted in its high adsorption abilities of hydroxyphenylacetic acid (p-HPA) in the dark, the adsorption process could be suitably described by a pseudo-second-order kinetics model and the adsorption isotherms could be well fitted with Freundlich and Langmuir equations. The photocatalytic degradation of p-HPA and acetaminophen (ACTP) were investigated under simulated solar and visible irradiation using BiOCl{sub x}I{sub y} catalyst for the first time. The combination of BiOCl and BiOI to a certain extent has largely improved the remove efficiency, and BiOCl{sub 0.75}I{sub 0.25} was the optimal catalyst with almost 100% removal of p-HPA and 80% removal of ACTP under solar light for 3 h. Experimental results demonstrated that the photocatalytic degradation of p-HPA and ACTP followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and O{sub 2}·{sup −} and dissolved oxygen play predominant roles in photocatalytic process efficiency. This research will supply an environment-friendly photocatalyst for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment under sunlight.

Evaluation of the antifouling and photocatalytic properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) plasma-grafted poly(acrylic acid) membrane with self-assembled TiO2

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

You, Sheng-Jie; Semblante, Galilee Uy; Lu, Shao-Chung; Damodar, Rahul A.; Wei, Ta-Chin

2012-01-01

Highlights: ► Plasma and grafting parameters that maximized TiO 2 binding sites were found. ► PVDF hydrophilicity was vastly improved compared to other modification techniques. ► At least 1.5% TiO 2 and 30 min UV exposure were needed to attain full flux recovery. ► Photocatalytic membranes could remove up to 42% of 50 mg/l RB5 dye. - Abstract: Immobilization of TiO 2 is a promising approach that produces antifouling and photocatalytic membranes that could help advance wastewater treatment and re-use processes. In this study, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was plasma-grafted on commercial poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to introduce functional groups on the membrane surface that can support the nanoparticles. It was found that plasma treatment at 100 W for 120 s followed by liquid grafting with 70% aqueous AA at 60 °C for 2 h maximized the number of TiO 2 binding sites. Membrane hydrophilicity was tremendously enhanced by the self-assembly of TiO 2 , following a direct proportionality to TiO 2 loading. The membrane with 0.5% TiO 2 loading maintained the highest pure water flux and the best protein antifouling property. UV irradiation triggered the photodegradation of strongly bound foulants, but at least 1.5% TiO 2 and 30 min cumulative irradiation were necessary to completely recover the membrane's original performance. The TiO 2 -modified membranes removed 30–42% of 50 mg/l aqueous Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye. The fabricated membranes demonstrate huge potential for use in membrane reactors with high hydrophilicity, fouling mitigation, and photocatalytic capability.

Enhancement of olive mill wastewater biodegradation by homogeneous and heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Badawy, M.I.; Gohary, F.El. [Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre (NRC), Dokki, Cairo 11312 (Egypt); Ghaly, M.Y., E-mail: ghalynrc@yahoo.com [Chemical Engineering and Pilot Plant Department, National Research Centre (NRC), Dokki, Cairo (Egypt); Ali, M.E.M. [Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre (NRC), Dokki, Cairo 11312 (Egypt)

2009-09-30

Olive mills wastewater (OMW) is characterized by its high organic content and refractory compounds. In this study, an advanced technology for the treatment of the recalcitrant contaminants of OMW has been investigated. The technique used was either photo-Fenton as homogeneous photocatalytic oxidation or UV/semi-conductor catalyst (such as TiO{sub 2}, ZrO{sub 2} and FAZA) as heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation for treatment of OMW. For both the processes, the effect of irradiation time, amounts of photocatalysts and semi-conductors, and initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide has been studied. At the optimum conditions, photo-Fenton process achieved COD, TOC, lignin (total phenolic compounds) and total suspended solids (TSSs) removal values of 87%, 84%, 97.44% and 98.31%, respectively. The corresponding values for UV/TiO{sub 2} were 68.8%, 67.3%, 40.19% and 48.9%, respectively, after 80 min irradiation time. The biodegradability expressed by BOD{sub 5}/COD ratio for treated wastewater was ranged from 0.66 to 0.8 compared to 0.19 for raw wastewater indicating enhancement of biodegradation.

Remarkably enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over MoS2 nanosheets loaded on uniform CdS nanospheres

Science.gov (United States)

Chai, Bo; Xu, Mengqiu; Yan, Juntao; Ren, Zhandong

2018-02-01

The MoS2/CdS composites with layered MoS2 loaded on uniform CdS nanospheres were synthesized by a two-step process combination hydrothermal and solvothermal treatments, and then applied in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectra, UV-vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectra (UV-DRS), nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurement, photoluminescence spectra (PL) and photoelectrochemical tests. The effects of loading contents of MoS2 in the composites on the photocatalytic H2 evolution activity were comparatively investigated with 0.45 mol L-1 Na2S and 0.55 mol L-1 Na2SO3 as sacrificial agents. The results showed that the 5 wt% MoS2/CdS composite could achieve the highest photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 372 μmol h-1 and apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) about 7.31% under 420 nm monochromatic light irradiation. The remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity of MoS2/CdS composite could be attributed to the effective transfer and separation of photogenerated charge carriers, and MoS2 being as a cocatalyst to facilitating photocatalytic H2 evolution reaction. A tentative mechanism of MoS2/CdS composites as photocatalysts for H2 evolution was proposed.

Bandgap engineering and charge separation in two-dimensional GaS-based van der Waals heterostructures for photocatalytic water splitting

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Biao; Kuang, Anlong; Luo, Xukai; Wang, Guangzhao; Yuan, Hongkuan; Chen, Hong

2018-05-01

Two-dimensional (2D) gallium sulfide (GaS), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) have been fabricated and expected to be promising photocatalysts under ultraviolet irradiation. Here, we employ hybrid density functional calculations to explore the potential of the 2D GaS-based heterojunctions GaS/h-BN (g-C3N4) for the design of efficient water redox photocatalysts. Both heterostructures can be formed via van der Waals (vdW) interaction and are direct bandgap semiconductors, whose bandgaps are reduced comparing with isolated GaS, h-BN or g-C3N4 monolayers and whose bandedges straddle water redox potentials. Furthermore, the optical absorption of GaS/h-BN (g-C3N4) heterostructures is observably enhanced in the ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light range. The electron-hole pairs in GaS/h-BN (g-C3N4) heterostructures are completely separated from different layers. In addition, the in-plane biaxial strain can effectively modulate the electronic properties of GaS/h-BN (g-C3N4) heterostructures. Thus the GaS/h-BN (g-C3N4) heterostructures are anticipated to be promising candidates for photocatalytic water splitting to produce hydrogen.

Advanced nanoporous TiO2 photocatalysts by hydrogen plasma for efficient solar-light photocatalytic application

Science.gov (United States)

An, Ha-Rim; Park, So Young; Kim, Hyeran; Lee, Che Yoon; Choi, Saehae; Lee, Soon Chang; Seo, Soonjoo; Park, Edmond Changkyun; Oh, You-Kwan; Song, Chan-Geun; Won, Jonghan; Kim, Youn Jung; Lee, Jouhahn; Lee, Hyun Uk; Lee, Young-Chul

2016-01-01

We report an effect involving hydrogen (H2)-plasma-treated nanoporous TiO2(H-TiO2) photocatalysts that improve photocatalytic performance under solar-light illumination. H-TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by application of hydrogen plasma of assynthesized TiO2(a-TiO2) without annealing process. Compared with the a-TiO2, the H-TiO2 exhibited high anatase/brookite bicrystallinity and a porous structure. Our study demonstrated that H2 plasma is a simple strategy to fabricate H-TiO2 covering a large surface area that offers many active sites for the extension of the adsorption spectra from ultraviolet (UV) to visible range. Notably, the H-TiO2 showed strong ·OH free-radical generation on the TiO2 surface under both UV- and visible-light irradiation with a large responsive surface area, which enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. Under solar-light irradiation, the optimized H-TiO2 120(H2-plasma treatment time: 120 min) photocatalysts showed unprecedentedly excellent removal capability for phenol (Ph), reactive black 5(RB 5), rhodamine B (Rho B) and methylene blue (MB) — approximately four-times higher than those of the other photocatalysts (a-TiO2 and P25) — resulting in complete purification of the water. Such well-purified water (>90%) can utilize culturing of cervical cancer cells (HeLa), breast cancer cells (MCF-7), and keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) while showing minimal cytotoxicity. Significantly, H-TiO2 photocatalysts can be mass-produced and easily processed at room temperature. We believe this novel method can find important environmental and biomedical applications. PMID:27406992

Green synthesis of AgI-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites: Toward enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity for organic dye removal

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Reddy, D. Amaranatha; Lee, Seunghee; Choi, Jiha; Park, Seonhwa; Ma, Rory; Yang, Haesik; Kim, Tae Kyu

2015-01-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • A novel green synthesis of AgI-RGO nanocomposites. • Significant improvement of the photocatalytic activity in RGO wrapped composites. • Additive promoted photocatalytic performance in AgI-RGO composites. • AgI-RGO nanocomposites may find applications in luminescent and catalytic devices. - Abstract: Novel reduced graphene oxide (RGO) enwrapped AgI nanocomposites were successfully fabricated by a facile template-free ultrasound-assisted method at room temperature. The structural, morphological, and optical studies demonstrate that the obtained nanostructures have good crystallinity and that the graphene nanosheets are decorated densely with AgI nanostructures. The photocatalytic activity of the composite was evaluated by the degradation of an organic dye, Rhodamine B (RhB), under visible-light irradiation. The results indicate that AgI with incorporated graphene exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than the pure AgI due to the improved separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers and that it prolonged the lifetime of the electron–hole pairs due to the chemical bonding between AgI and graphene. AgI (0.4 mg mL −1 of graphene oxide) nanocomposites displayed the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency and the corresponding catalytic efficiencies within 70 min were ∼96%. Moreover, with the assistance of H 2 O 2 the photocatalytic ability of the as-obtained AgI-RGO nanocomposites was enhanced. The corresponding catalytic efficiencies within 30 min were ∼96.8% (for 1 mL H 2 O 2 ) under the same irradiation conditions. The excellent visible-light photocatalytic efficiency and luminescence properties make the AgI-RGO nanocomposites promising candidates for the removal of organic dyes for water purification and enable their application in near-UV white LEDs

Photocatalytic decomposition of cortisone acetate in aqueous solution

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Sobral Romao, J.I.; Saad, M.H.; Mul, Guido; Baltrusaitis, Jonas

2015-01-01

The photocatalytic decomposition of cortisone 21-acetate (CA), a model compound for the commonly used steroid, cortisone, was studied. CA was photocatalytically decomposed in a slurry reactor with the initial rates between 0.11 and 0.46 mg L−1 min−1 at 10 mg L−1 concentration, using the following

Uniformly distributed anatase TiO2 nanoparticles on graphene: Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic application

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bai, Xue; Zhang, Xiaoyuan; Hua, Zulin; Ma, Wenqiang; Dai, Zhangyan; Huang, Xin; Gu, Haixin

2014-01-01

Highlights: • Uniform distributed TiO 2 nanoparticles on graphene by a modified method. • Reduced recombination rate of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. • Effective charge transfer from TiO 2 to graphene. • Better photocatalytic activity upon UV and visible irradiation. • A mechanism of bisphenol A degradation process is proposed. - Abstract: Graphene (GR)/TiO 2 nanocomposites are successfully synthesized using a simple and efficient hydrothermal method. Even-sized anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on GR. The GR/TiO 2 nanocomposites exhibit an extended light absorption range and decreased electron–hole recombination rates. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared GR/TiO 2 nanocomposites for bisphenol A (BPA) degradation is investigated under UV (λ = 365 nm) and visible (λ ⩾ 400 nm) light irradiation. The results show that GR/TiO 2 nanocomposites have significantly higher photocatalytic activity than P25 (pure TiO 2 ). The large increase in photocatalytic activity is mostly attributed to effective charge transfer from TiO 2 nanoparticles to GR, which suppresses charge recombination during the photocatalytic process. After five successive cycles, the photodegradation activity of the GR/TiO 2 nanocomposites shows no significant decrease, which indicates that the nanocomposites are stable under UV and visible light. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to investigate the chemical bonds of GR/TiO 2 nanocomposites before and after degradation to determine the degradation intermediate products of BPA under irradiation. A proposed degradation reaction pathway of BPA is also established. This study provides new insights into the fabrication and practical application of high-performance photocatalysts in wastewater treatment

Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production on three-dimensional gold butterfly wing scales/CdS nanoparticles

Science.gov (United States)

Fang, Jing; Song, Guofen; Liu, Qinglei; Zhang, Wang; Gu, Jiajun; Su, Yishi; Su, Huilan; Guo, Cuiping; Zhang, Di

2018-01-01

Photocatalytic water splitting via utilizing various semiconductors is recognized as a promising way for hydrogen production. Plasmonic metals with sub-micrometer textures can improve the photocatalytic performance of semiconductors via a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) process. Moreover, arrays of multilayer metallic structures can help generate strong LSPR. However, artificial synthesis has difficulties in constructing novel multilayer metallic arrays down to nanoscales. Here, we use three dimensional (3D) scales from Morpho didius forewings (M) to prepare 3D Au-wings with intact hierarchical bio-structures. For comparison, we use Troides helena forewings (T) which are known for their antireflection quasi-honeycomb structures resulting in strong light absorbing ability. Results show that multilayer rib structures of Au-M can significantly amplify the LSPR of 3D Au and thus can efficiently help the photocatalytic process (9-fold increase). This amplification effect is obviously more superior to the straightforward enhancement of the absorption of incident light (Au-T, 5-fold increase). Thus, our study provides the possibility to prepare highly efficient plasmonic photocatalysts (possessing 3D multilayer rib structures) via an easy method. This work will also be revealing for plasmonic applications in other fields.

Preparation high photocatalytic activity of CdS/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) nanocomposites with hydrothermal method

Science.gov (United States)

Xing, Weinan; Ni, Liang; Huo, Pengwei; Lu, Ziyang; Liu, Xinlin; Luo, Yingying; Yan, Yongsheng

2012-10-01

A novel nanocatalyst CdS/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was synthesized by hydrothermal method with direct growth of CdS nanoparticles on the surface of HNTs. The as-prepared photocatalysts had been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and the thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The photocatalytic activity of the sample was evaluated by the degradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation. Benefit from the excellent properties of CdS and HNTs, the photocatalyst exhibited good photocatalytic activity and stability. In order to find out the optimum synthesis condition to obtain the best photocatalytic activity, a series of experiments were performed with different CdS loading capacity, different sources of sulfide and different hydrothermal temperatures, etc. The best photodegradation rate could reach 93% in 60 min under visible light irradiation. Therefore, the combination of CdS nanoparticles with HNTs endowed this material with a potential use in environmental treatments in industries.

Ag loading induced visible light photocatalytic activity for pervoskite SrTiO3 nanofibers

Science.gov (United States)

Wu, Yeqiu; He, Tao

2018-06-01

The synthesis and photocatalytic activities of Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers were reported in this work. The fabricated Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers were characterized by TG-DSC, XRD, IR, XPS, SEM, TEM, DRS and ESR techniques. The XRD and IR results show that Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers have a perovskite structure after the heat treatment at 700 °C. The XPS result shows that Ag element exists as Ag0 in the fabricated Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers. The SEM and TEM images indicate the obtaining of nanofibers with porous structure. The photocatalytic activity of Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers was evaluated by degrading RhB and MB under visible light irradiation. The Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers show excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation because of the surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag0. In the photocatalysis process of RhB and MB, lots of hydroxyl radicals were generated, which plays the key role in the decomposition of organic pollutants.

Supported Photocatalyst for Removal of Emerging Contaminants from Wastewater in a Continuous Packed-Bed Photoreactor Configuration