Progress of applied research on TiO2 photocatalysis-membrane separation coupling technology in water and wastewater treatments

Synergistic effect of Fe doping and oxygen vacancy in AgIO3 for effectively degrading organic pollutants under natural sunlight

In this work, a series of hydrogenated Fe-doped AgIO3 (FAI-x) catalysts are synthesized for photodegrading diverse azo dyes and antibiotics. Under the irradiation of natural sunlight with a light intensity of ∼60 mW/cm2, the optimum FAI-10 exhibits a considerable rate constant for decomposing methyl orange (MO) of 0.067 min-1, about 7.4 times higher than that of AgIO3 (0.009 min-1), and 24.6% and 83.8% of MO can be decomposed over AgIO3 and FAI-10 after irradiation for 40 min. In the amplification photodegradation experiments with using 0.5 g catalyst and 400 mL MO dye solution (10 mg/L), FAI-10 possesses greatly higher photoreactivity to common semiconductors (ZnO, TiO2, In2O3 and Bi2MoO6), and the photodegradation rates over FAI-10 are 92%. Particularly, the FAI-10 shows superior stability, the activity of which remains unaltered after 8 continuous cycles. Foreign ions and water bodies have slight effect on the activity of FAI-10, but the MO degradation rates are decreased by adjusting pH values, especially when pH = 11 because of the strong electrostatic repulsion between MO and FAI-10. FAI-10 can also effectively decompose another azo dye (rhodamine B (RhB)) and diverse antibiotics (sulflsoxazole (SOX), chlortetracycline hydrochloride (CTC), tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) and ofloxacin (OFX)). The activity enhancement mechanism of FAI-10 has been systemically investigated and is ascribed to the promoted photo-absorption, charge separation and transfer efficiency, and affinity of organic pollutants, owing to the synergistic effect of Fe doping and oxygen vacancy (Ov). The photocatalytic mechanisms and process for decomposing MO are verified and proposed based on radical trapping experiments and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This work opens an avenue for the fabrication of effective photocatalysts toward water purification.

Clay-Alginate Beads Loaded with Ionic Liquids: Potential Adsorbents for the Efficient Extraction of Oil from Produced Water

Produced water (PW) generated from the petroleum industry, during the extraction of oil and gas, has harmful impacts on human health and aquatic life, due to its complex nature. Therefore, it is necessary to treat it before discharging it into the environment in order to avoid serious environmental concerns. In this research, oil adsorption from PW was investigated using clay-alginate beads loaded with ionic liquids (ILs), as the adsorbent material. The effects of several process parameters, such as the initial concentration of oil, contact time, pH, and temperature on the removal efficiency of the beads, were analyzed and optimized. Different characterization methods, such as the Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), were used to investigate the surface morphology, the chemical bond structure and functional group, and the thermal stability of the ILs-based beads. The results revealed that the clay-alginate-ILs beads indicated a removal efficiency of 71.8% at the optimum conditions (600 ppm initial oil concentration, 70 min contact time, 10 pH, and at room temperature) with an adsorption capacity of 431 mg/g. The FTIR analysis confirmed the successful chemical bond interaction of the oil with the beads. The SEM analysis verified that the beads have a porous and rough surface, which is appropriate for the adsorption of oil onto the bead’s surface. The TGA analysis provides the thermal degradation profile for the clay-alginate-ILs. The beads used in the adsorption process were regenerated and used for up to four cycles.

Photocatalytic membrane reactors for produced water treatment and reuse: Fundamentals, affecting factors, rational design, and evaluation metrics

Treatment and reuse of produced water (PW), the largest wastewater stream generated during oil and gas production, provides a promising option to address the increasing clean water demands. High-performance treatment technologies are needed to efficiently remove the organic and inorganic contaminants in PW for fit-for-purpose applications. Photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR) is an emerging green technology for removal of organic pollutants, photoreduction of heavy metals, photo-inactivation of bacteria, and resource recovery. This study critically reviewed the mechanisms of photocatalysis and membrane processes in PMR, factors affecting PMR performance, rational design, and evaluation metrics for PW treatment. Specifically, PW characteristics, photocatalysts properties, membranes applied, and operating conditions are of utmost importance for rational design and reliable operation of PMR. PW pretreatment to remove oil and grease, colloidal and suspended solids is necessary to reduce membrane fouling and ensure optimal PMR performance. The metrics to evaluate PMR performance were developed including light utilization, exergetic efficiency, water recovery, product water improvement, lifetime of the photocatalyst, and costs. This review also presented the research gaps and outlook for future research.

The Evolution of Photocatalytic Membrane Reactors over the Last 20 Years: A State of the Art Perspective

The research on photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs) started around the year 2000 with the study of wastewater treatment by degradation reactions of recalcitrant organic pollutants, and since then the evolution of our scientific knowledge has increased significantly, broadening interest in reactions such as the synthesis of organic chemicals. In this paper, we focus on some initial problems and how they have been solved/reduced over time to improve the performance of processes in PMRs. Some know-how gained during these last two decades of research concerns decreasing/avoiding the degradation of the polymeric membranes, improving photocatalyst reuse, decreasing membrane fouling, enhancing visible light photocatalysts, and improving selectivity towards the reaction product(s) in synthesis reactions (partial oxidation and reduction). All these aspects are discussed in detail in this review. This technology seems quite mature in the case of water and wastewater treatment using submerged photocatalytic membrane reactors (SPMRs), while for applications concerning synthesis reactions, additional knowledge is required.

Novel mesoporous TiO2@g-C3N4 hollow core@shell heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic activity for water treatment and H2 production under simulated sunlight

A novel mesoporous TiO₂@g-C₃N₄ hollow core@shell heterojunction photocatalyst was engineered for the first time by in situ calcining and growing of cyanamide (CY) on the surface of TiO₂. The HTCN-1 possesses good structure and performance when the addition amount of CY is 1 mL. HTCN-1 shows high photocatalytic activity toward congo red (CR), rhodamine B (RhB), phenol and ciprofloxacin (CIP) with degradation efficiencies of 97%, 100%, 73%, and 74%, respectively. HTCN-1 also displays high photocatalytic activity for H₂ generation at rate of 7.9 μmol h^-1. A possible charger transfer mechanism and photocatalytic degradation mechanism of HTCN-1 are proposed basing on the experiment results. The enhanced photocatalytic activity may be attributed to the higher charge transfer efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole (e^--h⁺) pairs caused by close contacts, a larger interfacial area, and the higher barrier for conduction bending. What's more, HTCN-1 possesses relatively high stability during the entire photoreaction process. Given the unique spatial structure and superior photocatalytic characteristics of the HTCN-1, there is great potential for applications in water treatment and H₂ generation.

Recent advancements in supporting materials for immobilised photocatalytic applications in waste water treatment

The aim of this paper is to provide a review on the usage of different anchoring media (supports) for immobilising commonly employed photocatalysts for degradation of organic pollutants. The immobilisation of nano-sized photocatalysts can eliminate costly and impractical post-treatment recovery of spent photocatalysts in largescale operations. Some commonly employed immobilisation aids such as glass, carbonaceous substances, zeolites, clay and ceramics, polymers, cellulosic materials and metallic agents that have been previously discussed by various research groups have been reviewed. The study revealed that factors such as high durability, ease of availability, low density, chemical inertness and mechanical stability are primary factors responsible for the selection of suitable supports for catalysts. Common techniques for immobilisation namely, dip coating, cold plasma discharge, polymer assisted hydrothermal decomposition, RF magnetron sputtering, photoetching, solvent casting, electrophoretic deposition and spray pyrolysis have been discussed in detail. Finally, some common techniques adopted for the characterisation of the catalyst particles and their uses are also discussed.

Photoelectrocatalytic activity of an ordered and vertically aligned TiO2 nanorod array/BDD heterojunction electrode

Rutile TiO₂ nanorod (TiNR) arrays were fabricated on a boron-doped diamond (BDD) substrate by a simple hydrothermal synthesis method. A fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode grown with TiNR arrays was also prepared using the same technology for comparison. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy results show that oriented TiNR arrays can grow vertically on the surface of BDD and FTO electrodes. TiNR arrays grown on both electrodes had the same length (3μm). In comparison with the TiNR/FTO electrode, the TiNR/BDD electrode demonstrated a higher photoelectrocatalytic activity for the degradation of water and organic compounds, which is mostly attributed to the formation of a p-n heterojunction between the TiNR arrays and BDD at high potential, apart from the density of TiNR. A linear relationship between the photoelectrocatalytic current and the organic concentration can be observed on both electrodes. However, the linear range between net photoelectrocatalytic current values and organic compound concentrations for the TiNR/BDD electrode are much greater than those for the TiNR/FTO electrode, which makes the TiNR/BDD electrode a versatile material for the photocatalytic degradation and sensing of organic compounds.

Electrically driven biofouling release of a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) membrane modified with an electrically induced reversibly cross-linked polymer

Electrically induced reversible reactions between ferrocene (Fc) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) groups have been utilized for preparation of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) membranes exhibiting electrically driven biofouling release properties. PTFE membrane is surface-modified with polymer chains possessing Fc pendant groups. The surface layer is then cross-linked with a difunctional β-CD compound by means of the Fc/β-CD complexation reaction. The electrically induced reversibly cross-linking and de-cross-linking behaviors of the surface layer of the modified PTFE membrane have been characterized with Fourier transform Infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The surface-modified PTFE membrane has been fouled with protein absorption. Electrical treatment of the fouled membrane results in a protein detachment from the membrane surface driven by the surface structure change accompanied with the electrically induced de-cross-linking reaction of the Fc/β-CD linkages. A smart membrane exhibiting a novel cleaning technology for membrane fouling has been developed.

NF-TiO₂ photocatalysis of amitrole and atrazine with addition of oxidants under simulated solar light: emerging synergies, degradation intermediates, and reusable attributes

In order to investigate sustainable alternatives to current water treatment methods, the effect of NF-titania film thickness and subsequent photocatalysis in combination with oxidants was examined under simulated solar light. Such a combination presents a theoretical possibility for a synergistic interaction between the photocatalyst and the oxidant (activation of the oxidant by the catalyst under conditions under which it may not conventionally be activated). To investigate, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and persulfate (PS) were used as oxidants, and two pesticides, amitrole and atrazine, were used as target contaminants. In the absence of a film, activation of PMS under simulated solar conditions is demonstrated by removal of atrazine, whereas PS provided minimal removal, suggesting inefficient activation. Combining photocatalytic films with PMS and PS manifested synergies for both oxidants. The effect was most pronounced for PS since PMS already underwent significant activation without the photocatalyst. Amitrole degradation results indicated a lack of removal of amitrole by activated PS alone, suggesting that this sulfate radical-based treatment technology may be ineffective for the removal of amitrole. The NF-TiO₂ films demonstrated reusability under solar light both with and without oxidants. Finally, the degradation intermediates were analyzed, and a new intermediate appeared upon incorporating oxidants into the system.

Immobilization of TiO2 nanoparticles in polymeric substrates by chemical bonding for multi-cycle photodegradation of organic pollutants

Nano titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) photocatalyst is generally immobilized onto the matrix through the physical absorption, hydrogen bonding or chemical bonding, which is utilized for the application of wastewater treatment. In this research, TiO(2) nanoparticles were immobilized in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix via solution-casting combined with heat-treatment method. Structure characterization indicated that Ti-O-C chemical bond formed via dehydration reaction between TiO(2) and PVA during the heat treatment process, and TiO(2) nanoparticles had been chemically immobilized in PVA matrix. Photodegradation results of methyl orange (MO) showed that the film with 10 wt% TiO(2) and treated at 140°C for 2h exhibited a remarkable ultraviolet (UV) photocatalytic activity, approximately close to the TiO(2) slurry system. This was mainly attributed to the fixation effect by Ti-O-C chemical bonds, which was indirectly confirmed by the slight loss of TiO(2) photocatalysts even after 25-cycle use. In addition, the good swelling ability of PVA matrix provided the MO molecules with more opportunities to fully contact with TiO(2), thus benefited the photocatalysis. This route to chemically immobilize TiO(2) nanoparticles is simple and cheap to prepare polymer/TiO(2) hybrid materials with high photocatalytic activity for multi-cycle use, which is of significance to the practical application of TiO(2) catalysts.