Microwave-Assisted Rapid Photocatalytic Degradation of Malachite Green in TiO2 Suspensions: Mechanism and Pathways

Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in aqueous solution by nanosized TiO2

Tetracyclines are widely-used antibiotics in the world. Due to their poor absorption by human beings, or poultry and livestocks, most of them are excreted into the environment, causing growing concern about their potential impact, while photodegradation has been found to dominate their sequestration and bioavailability. Coupling with high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS), gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and electron spin resonance (ESR), the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of TC in aqueous solution by nanosized TiO2 (P25) under UV irradiation was investigated. The photocatalysis eliminated 95% of TC and 60% of total organic carbon (TOC) after 60 min irradiation, and NH4(+) ion was found to be one of the end-products. Bioluminescence assay showed that the toxicity of TC solution reached the maximum after 20 min irradiation and then gradually decreased. The degradation of TC included electron transfer, hydroxylation, open-ring reactions and cleavage of the central carbon. A possible photocatalytic degradation pathway of TC was proposed on the basis of the identified intermediates. Overall, the TiO2 photocatalysis was found to be a promising process for removing TC and its intermediates.

Microwaves and their coupling to advanced oxidation processes: enhanced performance in pollutants degradation

This review assesses microwaves (MW) coupled to advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for pollutants degradation, as well as the basic theory and mechanisms of MW dielectric heating. We addressed the following couplings: MW/H2O2, MW/UV/H2O2, MW/Fenton, MW/US, and MW/UV/TiO2, as well as few studies that tested alternative oxidants and catalysts. Microwave Discharge Electrodeless Lamps (MDELs) are being extensively used with great advantages over ballasts. In their degradation studies, researchers generally employed domestic ovens with minor adaptations. Non-thermal effects and synergies between UV and MW radiation play an important role in the processes. Published papers so far report degradation enhancements between 30 and 1,300%. Unfortunately, how microwaves enhance pollutants is still obscure and real wastewaters scarcely studied. Based on the results surveyed in the literature, MW/AOPs are promising alternatives for treating/remediating environmental pollutants, whenever one considers high degradation yields, short reaction times, and small costs.

Degradation of Malachite green by Potassium persulphate, its enhancement by 1,8-dimethyl-1,3,6,8,10,13-hexaazacyclotetradecane nickel(II) perchlorate complex, and removal of antibacterial activity

In this study, degradation of Malachite green (MG) (10mg/L) by Potassium persulphate (KPS) (1 g/L), and KPS in presence of (1,8-dimethyl-1,3,6,8,10,13-hexaazacyclotetradecane) nickel(II) perchlorate (complex1), (200 μM), was investigated by spectrophotometric and HPLC methods. KPS alone had ability to degrade MG. Interestingly, rate of degradation of MG was enhanced upon addition of complex1. Degradation was effective at pH range of 3-9 and was found to be dependent on initial concentration of KPS, complex1, MG, and pH. Degradation of MG by KPS was not significantly affected in presence of Ni(II) ions whereas in presence of Fe(II) ions degradation was incomplete. Ability of KPS to reduce TOC increased in presence of complex1. Transformation products were analysed by LC-ESI-MS. Finally, treatment of MG with complex1 and KPS resulted in removal of antibacterial activity of MG under in vitro conditions.

Synthesis of surface sulfated BiWO with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Sulfated BiWO (SBiWO) was synthesized by an impregnation method to enhance the visible-light-driven photoactivities of BiWO (BiWO). The characterization results verified that sulfate anion mainly anchored on the catalyst surface greatly extended the visible-light-responsive range without destroying the crystal lattice. Moreover, the SBiWO-based photoactivities were evaluated with the removal of Malachite Green (MG) under UV-Vis irradiation emitted from two microwave-powered electrodeless discharge lamps (MPEDL2) and under visible light (lamda > 420 nm). The results demonstrated that the kinetic constant was increased 2.25 times, varying from 0.1478 (BiWO) to 0.3328 min(-1) (SBiWO-1). Similar results were also obtained for the visible light-driven reaction. Furthermore, radical scavengers such as t-butanol restricted the visible-light induced degradation of MG over BiWO and SBiWO-1. This indicated that the sulfating process increased the generation of reactive oxygen species, which was further verified by molecular probe with salicylic acid. Thus, more blue-shifting at lam = 618 nm was observed over SBiWO. On the basis of the above results, the photocatalytic mechanism over the sulfated catalyst was also discussed.

Removal of malachite green by adsorption and precipitation using aminopropyl functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate

We report a method for the removal of malachite green (MG) by adsorption and precipitation using nano-sized aminopropyl functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate (AMP) clay. MG, which is used in aquaculture and fisheries, is a carcinogenic and mutagenic compound. In response to these health risks, many efforts have been focused on adsorption of MG onto various adsorbents, which is a versatile and widely used technique for removing MG from water. Herein, we describe the adsorption and precipitation of MG using AMP clay, as well as the alkaline fading phenomenon of MG. In this study, prepared AMP clay and the precipitate product after the reaction of MG-AMP clay mixture were characterized. In addition, adsorption isotherms and kinetics, as well as thermodynamic studies are presented. Based on the results, we suggest a macro- and microscopic removal mechanism for the adsorption and precipitation of MG using AMP clay. An AMP clay dosage of 0.1 mg mL(-1) exhibited a maximum removal capacity of 334.80 mg g(-1) and 81.72% MG removal efficiency. With further increases of the AMP clay dosage, removal capacity by AMP clay gradually decreased; at dosage above 0.2 mg mL(-1) of AMP clay, the removal efficiency reached 100%.

Photodegradation of crystal violet in TiO(2) suspensions using UV-vis irradiation from two microwave-powered electrodeless discharge lamps (EDL(-2)): products, mechanism and feasibility

Aqueous crystal violet (CV) solutions containing P25-TiO(2) photocatalyst were irradiated with ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light from two microwave-powered electrodeless discharge lamps (EDL(-2)). The results demonstrated that approximately 94.4% of CV was effectively removed after 3 min of irradiation, with a pseudo-first order kinetic constant of 0.838 min(-1). According to 32 kinds of products, a five-step degradation pathway of CV was proposed. Further investigations showed that (1) three kinds of N-demethylated products and 4-dimethylaminobenzophenone (DLBP) were the main intermediates; (2) malachite green (MG) and leuco-crystal violet could not be generated by N-demethylation and phototransformation reactions, respectively; (3) bis(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)methanone preferentially generated via decomposition of the conjugated structure of CV could be further N-demethylated into DLBP. Moreover, the unique degradation pathways of CV and MG were ascribed to the different substituents on the conjugated structures. Additionally, the cost and kinetic constant of different processes was also evaluated, and the results indicated the feasibility of this method for treatment of CV in field situations.

Degradation of malachite green on Pd/WO3 photocatalysts under simulated solar light

The photocatalytic degradation of malachite green (MG) dye molecules in aqueous solution was investigated by using palladium (Pd) modified tungsten trioxide (WO(3)) under simulated solar light. The optimum values for Pd content vs. WO(3) and catalyst concentration in solution for MG (5.0 μmol L(-1)) degradation were 0.5 wt.% and 150 mg L(-1), respectively. The MG concentration change followed the pseudo first order kinetics of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. Since MG was also degraded under visible light (λ>470 nm), which was not absorbed by WO(3), the mechanism involved both the photocatalytic degradation and self-sensitized degradation of MG. Pd modified WO(3) would be useful as an efficient tool for the decolorization of wastewater under solar light.

Microwave-enhanced H2O2-based process for treating aqueous malachite green solutions: intermediates and degradation mechanism

This work was originally performed to compare H(2)O(2)-based degradation of aqueous malachite green (MG) under microwave (MW)-enhanced and conventional heating (CH)-enhanced conditions, with the whole reaction courses traced by UV-vis spectrophotometer. The results showed that the higher discoloration rates of MG were available during MW-enhanced process, implying that the special heating way of MW might be more benefit for the generation of hydroxyl radicals than that of CH. Furthermore, major intermediates were separated and identified by HPLC-ESI-MS and GC-MS techniques. On the basis of 53 intermediates, degradation mechanism was deduced as follows: firstly, N-de-methylation reactions. Secondly, adduction reactions. Thirdly, decomposition of conjugated structure reactions of MG. Fourthly, removal of benzene reactions. Finally, open-ring reactions. Additionally, results revealed that microwave-enhanced H(2)O(2)-based treatment had more advantages, such as higher degradation efficiency, and no removal of catalyst after treatment.