Decomposition of naproxen by plasma in liquid process with TiO2 photocatslysts and hydrogen peroxide

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the environment: Recent updates on the occurrence, fate, hazards and removal technologies

Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are extensively utilized pharmaceuticals worldwide. However, owing to the improper discharge and disposal practices, they have emerged as significant contaminants that are widely distributed in water, soils, and sewage sediments. This ubiquity poses a substantial threat to the ecosystem and human health. Consequently, it is imperative to develop rapid, cost-effective, efficient and reliable approaches for containing these substance in order to mitigate the deleterious impact of NSAIDs. This research provides a comprehensive review of the occurrence, fate, and hazards associated with NSAIDs in the general environment. Additionally, various removal technologies, including advanced oxidation processes, biodegradation, and adsorption, were systematically summarized. The study also presents a comparative analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of different removal technologies while interpreting challenges related to NSAIDs' removal and proposing strategies for future development.

Photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin and tetracycline by template synthesized nano-structured Ce3+@TiO2 thin film catalyst

Contamination of the aquatic environment with pharmaceutical compounds is a serious environmental concern. The present investigation aims to utilize the Ce³⁺/TiO₂ thin film catalyst to remove of potential antibiotics (amoxicillin and tetracycline) using the less harmful UV-A radiations. Reduced cerium ion-doped TiO₂ is obtained by a simple one-step facile template method using polyethylene glycol as the templating agent. The synthesized catalysts Ce³⁺@TiO₂ (non-template) and Ce³⁺@TiO₂(T) (template) were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The XPS reaffirms the reduced Ce³⁺ dispersed within the titania network, and the AFM showed the surface roughness of the thin films. Detailed physicochemical analyses were conducted to deduce the degradation mechanism, and repeated use of the thin film photocatalyst showed enhanced stability. Significant mineralization of the antibiotics indicates the potential applicability of the photocatalytic catalyst. Furthermore, the presence of Ce³⁺ significantly restricted the recombination of electron/hole pairs in the photo-excited TiO₂ semiconductor and showed enhanced photocatalytic degradation of the antibiotics proceeded predominantly through the •OH.

Acetaldehyde Adsorption Characteristics of Ag/ACF Composite Prepared by Liquid Phase Plasma Method

Ag particles were precipitated on an activated carbon fiber (ACF) surface using a liquid phase plasma (LPP) method to prepare a Ag/ACF composite. The efficiency was examined by applying it as an adsorbent in the acetaldehyde adsorption experiment. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry confirmed that Ag particles were distributed uniformly on an ACF surface. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that metallic silver (Ag0) and silver oxide (Ag2O) precipitated simultaneously on the ACF surface. Although the precipitated Ag particles blocked the pores of the ACF, the specific surface area of the Ag/ACF composite material decreased, but the adsorption capacity of acetaldehyde was improved. The AA adsorption of ACF and Ag/ACF composites performed in this study was suitable for the Dose-Response model.