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Feyie E, Zereffa EA, Tadesse A, Goddati M, Noh D, Oh E, Tufa LT, Lee J. An Efficient p-n Heterojunction Copper Tin Sulfide/g-C 3N 4 Nanocomposite for Methyl Orange Photodegradation. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:28463-28475. [PMID: 38973891 PMCID: PMC11223204 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c02414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The discharge of toxic dye effluents from industry is a major concern for environmental pollution and toxicity. These toxic dyes can be efficiently removed from waste streams using a photocatalysis process involving visible light. Due to its simple synthesis procedure, inexpensive precursor, and robust stability, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, or CN) has been used as a visible light responsive catalyst for the degradation of dyes with mediocre performance because it is limited by its low visible light harvesting capability due to its wide bandgap and fast carrier recombination rate. To overcome these limitations and enhance the performance of g-C3N4, it was coupled with a narrow bandgap copper tin sulfide (CTS) semiconductor to form a p-n heterojunction. CTS and g-C3N4 were selected due to their good stability, low toxicity, ease of synthesis, layered sheet/plate-like morphology, and relatively abundant precursors. Accordingly, a series of copper tin sulfide/graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites (CTS/g-C3N4) with varying CTS contents were successfully synthesized via a simple two-step process involving thermal pyrolysis and coprecipitation for visible-light-induced photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye. The photocatalytic activity results showed that the 50%(wt/wt) CTS/g-C3N4 composite displayed a remarkable degradation efficiency of 95.6% for MO dye under visible light illumination for 120 min, which is higher than that of either pristine CTS or g-C3N4. The improved performance is attributed to the extended light absorption range (due to the optimized bandgap), effective suppression of photoinduced electron-hole recombination, and improved charge transfer that arose from the formation of a p-n heterojunction, as evidenced by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), photocurrent, and photoluminescence results. Moreover, the results of the reusability study showed that the composite has excellent stability, indicating its potential for the degradation of MO and other toxic organic dyes from waste streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Endale
Kebede Feyie
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, Adama Science and
Technology University, P.O. Box: 1888, Adama 1888, Ethiopia
| | - Enyew Amare Zereffa
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, Adama Science and
Technology University, P.O. Box: 1888, Adama 1888, Ethiopia
| | - Aschalew Tadesse
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, Adama Science and
Technology University, P.O. Box: 1888, Adama 1888, Ethiopia
| | - Mahendra Goddati
- Department
of Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Daegwon Noh
- Department
of Physics, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
- Institute
of Quantum Systems (IQS), Chungnam National
University,99 Daehak-ro Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Eunsoon Oh
- Department
of Physics, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
- Institute
of Quantum Systems (IQS), Chungnam National
University,99 Daehak-ro Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Lemma Teshome Tufa
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, Adama Science and
Technology University, P.O. Box: 1888, Adama 1888, Ethiopia
- Research
Institute of Materials Chemistry, Chungnam
National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic
of Korea
| | - Jaebeom Lee
- Department
of Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
- Research
Institute of Materials Chemistry, Chungnam
National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic
of Korea
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2
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Imtiaz F, Rashid J, Kumar R, Eniola JO, Barakat MAEF, Xu M. Recent advances in visible light driven inactivation of bloom forming blue-green algae using novel nano-composites: Mechanism, efficiency and fabrication approaches. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 248:118251. [PMID: 38278506 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Over the years, algae have proved to be a water pollutant due to global warming, climate change, and the unregulated addition of organic compounds in water bodies from diffused resources. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are severely affecting the health of humans and aquatic ecosystems. Among available anti-blooming technologies, semiconductor photocatalysis has come forth as an effective alternative. In the recent past, literature has been modified extensively with a decisive knowledge regarding algal invasion, desired preparation of nanomaterials with enhanced visible light absorption capacity and mechanisms for algal cell denaturation. The motivation behind this review article was to gather algal inactivation data in a systematic way based on various research studies, including the construction of nanoparticles and purposely to test their anti-algal activities under visible irradiation. Additionally, this article mentions variety of starting materials employed for preparation of various nano-powders with focus on their synthesis routes, analytical techniques as well as proposed mechanisms for lost cellular integrity in context of reduced chlorophyll' a' level, cell rapture, cell leakage and damages to other physiological constituents; credited to oxidative damage initiated by reactive oxidation species (ROS). Various floating and recyclable composited catalysts Ag2CO3-N: GO, Ag/AgCl@ZIF-8, Ag2CrO4-g-C3N4-TiO2/mEP proved to be game-changers owing to their enhanced VL absorption, adsorption, stability, separation and reusability. An outlook for the generalized limitations of published reports, cost estimations for practical implementation, issues and challenges faced by nano-photocatalysts and possible opportunities for future studies are also proposed. This review will be able to provide vast insights for coherent fabrication of catalysts, breakthroughs in experimental methodologies and help in elaboration of damage mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Imtiaz
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Jamshaid Rashid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan; BNU-HKUST Laboratory for Green Innovation, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, 519087, China.
| | - Rajeev Kumar
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jamiu O Eniola
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Abou El-Fetouh Barakat
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Central Metallurgical R & D Institute, Helwan, 11421, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ming Xu
- BNU-HKUST Laboratory for Green Innovation, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, 519087, China.
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Seifikar F, Habibi-Yangjeh A. Floating photocatalysts as promising materials for environmental detoxification and energy production: A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 355:141686. [PMID: 38513952 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The oxygenation process of the catalyst surface, the incident-light harvesting capability, and facile recycling of utilized photocatalysts play key role in the outstanding photocatalytic performances. The typical existing photocatalysts in powder form have many drawbacks, such as difficult separation from the treated water, insufficient surface oxygenation, poor active surface area, low incident-light harvesting ability, and secondary pollution of the environment. A great number of scientific works introduced novel and fresh ideas related to designing floating photocatalytic systems by immobilizing highly active photocatalysts onto a floatable substrate. Thanks to direct contact with the illuminated light and oxygen molecules in the interface of water/air, the photocatalytic performance is maximized through production of more reactive species, employed in the photocatalytic reactions. Furthermore, facile recovering of the utilized photocatalysts for next processes avoids secondary pollution as well as diminishes the process's price. This review highlights the performance of developed floating photocatalysts for diverse applications. Furthermore, different floating substrates and possible mechanisms in floating photocatalysts are briefly mentioned. In addition, several emerging self-floating photocatalytic systems are taken attention and discussed. Specially, coupling photo-thermal and photocatalytic effects seems to be a good strategy for introducing a new class of floating photocatalyst to utilize the free, abundant, and green sunlight energy for the aims of water desalination and purification. Despite of a large number of attempts about the floating photocatalysts, there are still plenty of rooms for more in-depth research to be carried out for attaining the required characteristics of the large scale utilizations of these materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Seifikar
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Aziz Habibi-Yangjeh
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
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Wei Y, Wang R, Wang M, Hu L, Zhang X, Xu Y, Liu Y, Lan F, Chen J. Research status and prospects of organic photocatalysts in algal inhibition and sterilization: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:5013-5031. [PMID: 38147259 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31665-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
An increasing amount of sewage has been discharged into water bodies in the progression of industrialization and urbanization, causing serious water pollution. Meanwhile, the increase of nutrients in the water induces water eutrophication and rapid growth of algae. Photocatalysis is a common technique for algal inhibition and sterilization. To improve the utilization of visible light and the conversion efficiency of solar energy, more organic photocatalytic materials have been gradually developed. In addition to ultraviolet light, partial infrared light and visible light could also be used by organic photocatalysts compared with inorganic photocatalysts. Simultaneously, organic photocatalysts also exhibit favorable stability. Most organic photocatalysts can maintain a high degradation rate for algae and bacteria after several cycles. There are various organic semiconductors, mainly including small organic molecules, such as perylene diimide (PDI), porphyrin (TCPP), and new carbon materials (fullerene (C60), graphene (GO), and carbon nanotubes (CNT)), and large organic polymers, such as graphite phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4), polypyrrole (PPy), polythiophene (PTH), polyaniline (PANI), and polyimide (PI). In this review, the classification and synthesis methods of organic photocatalytic materials were elucidated. It was demonstrated that the full visible spectral response (400-750 nm) could be stimulated by modifying organic photocatalysts. Moreover, some problems were summarized based on the research status related to algae and bacteria, and corresponding suggestions were also provided for the development of organic photocatalytic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yushan Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, People's Republic of China
| | - Renjun Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengjiao Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijun Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuling Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Lan
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, People's Republic of China
| | - Junfeng Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Parida VK, Srivastava SK, Chowdhury S, Gupta AK. Visible Light-Assisted Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole on 2D/0D Sulfur-Doped Bi 2O 3/MnO 2 Z-Scheme Heterojunction Immobilized Photocatalysts. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:18846-18865. [PMID: 38095629 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Retrieving the spent photocatalysts from the reaction system is always a challenging task. Therefore, the present work is focused on immobilizing sulfur-doped-Bi2O3/MnO2 (S-BOMO) heterojunction photocatalysts over different support matrices and evaluating their performance for the removal of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in water under visible light. Our findings revealed S-BOMO coated clay beads (S-BOMO CCB) achieving more than 86% (240 min) SMX degradation ∼3, ∼1.3, and ∼2 times higher compared to S-BOMO coated on the different substrates, including glass beads, floating stones, and polymer material substrates, respectively. Mott-Schottky measurements confirmed the construction of the Z-scheme heterojunction involving MnO2 and 2S-Bi2O3. This Z-scheme mechanism, along with its narrow band gap of 1.58 eV, resulted in a rapid spatial transfer of the photogenerated charge carriers between the semiconductors and is believed to enhance the overall photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite. Radical trapping and electron paramagnetic resonance results clearly established the active role of hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide in the degradation of SMX. Further, the 2S-BOMO CCB demonstrated excellent stability and photocatalytic activity over multiple runs. According to the sensitivity analysis and the results of anion effect experiments, phosphate and sulfate ions exhibit a significant impact on sulfamethoxazole degradation. Toxicity analysis revealed that 2S-BOMO CCB and sulfamethoxazole degradation byproducts were apparently innocuous. Additionally, the practical applicability of 2S-BOMO CCB was examined in various real water matrices, with the degradation efficiency followed the order: tap water < groundwater < surface water < hospital wastewater < municipal wastewater < pharmaceutical industry wastewater. The economic assessment revealed the reduction in the overall cost of the immobilized 2S-BOMO following the recovery process. Overall, the findings of this work provided critical insights into the synthesis and performance of incredibly effective and stable immobilized photocatalysts for the degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Kumar Parida
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
| | | | - Shamik Chowdhury
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Gupta
- Environmental Engineering Division, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India
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Bang Truong H, Cuong Nguyen X, Hur J. Recent advances in g-C 3N 4-based photocatalysis for water treatment: Magnetic and floating photocatalysts, and applications of machine-learning techniques. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118895. [PMID: 37659370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, there has been a substantial increase in research investigating the potential of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for various environmental remediations. Renowned for its photocatalytic activity under visible light, g-C3N4 offers a promising solution for treating water pollutants. However, traditional g-C3N4-based photocatalysts have inherent drawbacks, creating a disparity between laboratory efficacy and real-world applications. A primary practical challenge is their fine-powdered form, which hinders separation and recycling processes. A promising approach to address these challenges involves integrating magnetic or floating materials into conventional photocatalysts, a strategy gaining traction within the g-C3N4-based photocatalyst arena. Another emerging solution to enhance practical applications entails merging experimental results with contemporary computational methods. This synergy seeks to optimize the synthesis of more efficient photocatalysts and pinpoint optimal conditions for pollutant removal. While numerous review articles discuss the laboratory-based photocatalytic applications of g-C3N4-based materials, there is a conspicuous absence of comprehensive coverage regarding state-of-the-art research on improved g-C3N4-based photocatalysts for practical applications. This review fills this void, spotlighting three pivotal domains: magnetic g-C3N4 photocatalysts, floating g-C3N4 photocatalysts, and the application of machine learning to g-C3N4 photocatalysis. Accompanied by a thorough analysis, this review also provides perspectives on future directions to enhance the efficacy of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts in water purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Bang Truong
- Optical Materials Research Group, Science and Technology Advanced Institute, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Faculty of Applied Technology, School of Technology, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| | - Xuan Cuong Nguyen
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, South Korea
| | - Jin Hur
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, South Korea.
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7
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Covei M, Bogatu C, Gheorghita S, Duta A, Stroescu H, Nicolescu M, Calderon-Moreno JM, Atkinson I, Bratan V, Gartner M. Influence of the Deposition Parameters on the Properties of TiO 2 Thin Films on Spherical Substrates. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:4899. [PMID: 37512174 PMCID: PMC10381302 DOI: 10.3390/ma16144899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment targeting reuse may limit water scarcity. Photocatalysis is an advanced oxidation process that may be employed in the removal of traces of organic pollutants, where the material choice is important. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a highly efficient photocatalyst with good aqueous stability. TiO2 powder has a high surface area, thus allowing good pollutant adsorption, but it is difficult to filter for reuse. Thin films have a significantly lower surface area but are easier to regenerate and reuse. In this paper, we report on obtaining sol-gel TiO2 thin films on spherical beads (2 mm diameter) with high surface area and easy recovery from wastewater. The complex influence of the substrate morphology (etched up to 48 h in concentrated H2SO4), of the sol dilution with ethanol (1:0 or 1:1), and the number of layers (1 or 2) on the structure, morphology, chemical composition, and photocatalytic performance of the TiO2 thin films is investigated. Etching the substrate for 2 h in H2SO4 leads to uniform, smooth surfaces on which crystalline, homogeneous TiO2 thin films are grown. Films deposited using an undiluted sol are stable in water, with some surface reorganization of the TiO2 aggregates occurring, while the films obtained using diluted sol are partially washed out. By increasing the film thickness through the deposition of a second layer, the roughness increases (from ~50 nm to ~100 nm), but this increase is not high enough to promote higher adsorption or overall photocatalytic efficiency in methylene blue photodegradation (both about 40% after 8 h of UV-Vis irradiation at 55 W/m2). The most promising thin film, deposited on spherical bead substrates (etched for 2 h in H2SO4) using the undiluted sol, with one layer, is highly crystalline, uniform, water-stable, and proves to have good photocatalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Covei
- Department of Product Design, Mechatronics and Environment, Transilvania University of Brasov, 29 Eroilor Bd., 500036 Brasov, Romania
| | - Cristina Bogatu
- Department of Product Design, Mechatronics and Environment, Transilvania University of Brasov, 29 Eroilor Bd., 500036 Brasov, Romania
| | - Silvioara Gheorghita
- Department of Product Design, Mechatronics and Environment, Transilvania University of Brasov, 29 Eroilor Bd., 500036 Brasov, Romania
| | - Anca Duta
- Department of Product Design, Mechatronics and Environment, Transilvania University of Brasov, 29 Eroilor Bd., 500036 Brasov, Romania
| | - Hermine Stroescu
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independentei St., 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Madalina Nicolescu
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independentei St., 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Jose Maria Calderon-Moreno
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independentei St., 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Irina Atkinson
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independentei St., 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Veronica Bratan
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independentei St., 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mariuca Gartner
- "Ilie Murgulescu" Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Independentei St., 060021 Bucharest, Romania
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Moura DS, Pestana CJ, Moffat CF, Hui J, Irvine JTS, Lawton LA. Characterisation of microplastics is key for reliable data interpretation. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 331:138691. [PMID: 37076081 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic research has gained attention due to the increased detection of microplastics (<5 mm size) in the aquatic environment. Most laboratory-based research of microplastics is performed using microparticles from specific suppliers with either superficial or no characterisation performed to confirm the physico-chemical information detailed by the supplier. The current study has selected 21 published adsorption studies to evaluate how the microplastics were characterised by the authors prior experimentation. Additionally, six microplastic types described as 'small' (10-25 μm) and 'large' (100 μm) were commercially acquired from a single supplier. A detailed characterisation was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, and N2-Brunauer, Emmett and Teller adsorption-desorption surface area analysis. The size and the polymer composition of some of the material provided by the supplier was inconsistent with the analytical data obtained. FT-IR spectra of small polypropylene particles indicated either oxidation of the particles or the presence of a grafting agent which was absent in the large particles. A wide range of sizes for the small particles was observed: polyethylene (0.2-549 μm), polyethylene terephthalate (7-91 μm) and polystyrene (1-79 μm). Small polyamide (D50 75 μm) showed a greater median particle size and similar size distribution when compared to large polyamide (D50 65 μm). Moreover, small polyamide was found to be semi-crystalline, while the large polyamide displayed an amorphous form. The type of microplastic and the size of the particles are a key factor in determining the adsorption of pollutants and subsequent ingestion by aquatic organisms. Acquiring uniform particle sizes is challenging, however based on this study, characterisation of any materials used in microplastic-related experiments is critical to ensure reliable interpretation of results, thereby providing a better understanding of the potential environmental consequences of the presence of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana S Moura
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK.
| | - Carlos J Pestana
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK
| | - Colin F Moffat
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK
| | - Jianing Hui
- School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - John T S Irvine
- School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Linda A Lawton
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, UK
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9
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Pestana CJ, Hui J, Camacho-Muñoz D, Edwards C, Robertson PKJ, Irvine JTS, Lawton LA. Solar-driven semi-conductor photocatalytic water treatment (TiO 2, g-C 3N 4, and TiO 2+g-C 3N 4) of cyanotoxins: Proof-of-concept study with microcystin-LR. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 310:136828. [PMID: 36241123 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria and their toxins are a threat to drinking water safety as increasingly cyanobacterial blooms (mass occurrences) occur in lakes and reservoirs all over the world. Photocatalytic removal of cyanotoxins by solar light active catalysts is a promising way to purify water at relatively low cost compared to modifying existing infrastructure. We have established a facile and low-cost method to obtain TiO2 and g-C3N4 coated floating photocatalysts using recycled glass beads. g-C3N4 coated and TiO2+g-C3N4 co-coated beads were able to completely remove microcystin-LR in artificial fresh water under both natural and simulated solar light irradiation without agitation in less than 2 h. TiO2 coated beads achieved complete removal within 8 h of irradiation. TiO2+g-C3N4 beads were more effective than g-C3N4 beads as demonstrated by the increase reaction rate with reaction constants, 0.0485 min-1 compared to 0.0264 min-1 respectively, with TiO2 alone found to be considerably slower 0.0072 min-1. g-C3N4 based photocatalysts showed a similar degradation pathway to TiO2 based photocatalysts by attacking the C6-C7 double bond on the Adda side chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos J Pestana
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB10 7GJ, UK.
| | - Jianing Hui
- School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Dolores Camacho-Muñoz
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB10 7GJ, UK
| | - Christine Edwards
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB10 7GJ, UK
| | - Peter K J Robertson
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The Queen's University of Belfast, Stanmillis Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 5AG, UK
| | - John T S Irvine
- School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Linda A Lawton
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB10 7GJ, UK
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10
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Construction and investigation of graphitic carbon nitride/expanded perlite composite photocatalyst with floating ability. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.129384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Akaike K, Hosokai A, Nagashima H, Wei Q, Hosokai T. Chemical reactions of graphitic carbon nitride films with glass surfaces and their impact on photocatalytic activity. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:17504-17515. [PMID: 35838187 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp01677j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Thin films of graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN), a visible-light-driven photocatalyst, have recently attracted interest for application in photoelectrochemical cells for water splitting and high-throughput photocatalysis. In typical syntheses, g-CN films are formed by heating the nitrogen-rich precursor and substrate to 500-600 °C. The heated substrate should affect the polycondensation of the precursor and thereby alter the properties of the g-CN film. In this paper, we demonstrate that soda-lime glass, such as commercial glass slides, modifies the chemical structure of g-CN. The terminal amino groups of g-CN are partially substituted with cyanamide and hydroxyl groups. The electron-withdrawing groups provide the energy offsets of the frontier orbitals between the modified and unmodified molecules, facilitating exciton dissociation. After alkali metals are removed, the modified g-CN film exhibits a faster photodegradation of methyl orange compared with a melon film. The simple protocol to activate a g-CN film without co-catalysts paves a new way to enhance photocatalytic activity via selections of substrates, including waste glass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kouki Akaike
- Nanomaterials Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
| | - Ayako Hosokai
- Nanomaterials Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Nagashima
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Catalytic Chemistry, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| | - Qingshuo Wei
- Nanomaterials Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.
| | - Takuya Hosokai
- National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
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Rana A, Sudhaik A, Raizada P, Nguyen VH, Xia C, Parwaz Khan AA, Thakur S, Nguyen-Tri P, Nguyen CC, Kim SY, Le QV, Singh P. Graphitic carbon nitride based immobilized and non-immobilized floating photocatalysts for environmental remediation. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 297:134229. [PMID: 35259362 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In solar photocatalysis, light utilization and recycling of powder from reaction solution are the main obstructions that hinder the photocatalytic efficacy of any photocatalyst. In this respect, a floatable system is effective for efficient solar photocatalysis by light utilization. Due to the maximum solar light absorption property, floating nanocomposite photocatalyst is an appealing substitute for effective wastewater treatment. Floating photocatalysts are a non-oxygenated and non-stirred solution that is a good light harvester, stable, non-toxic, biodegradable, naturally abundant in nature. They also have low density, a simple preparation process, no need to stir, and high porosity. Due to these characteristics, floating photocatalysts are widely favored and ideal candidates for practical environmental remediation. Several researchers have come up with new and innovative ways for immobilizing capable photocatalyst on a floatable substrate to produce floating nanocomposite photocatalytic material. In recent decades, g-C3N4-based floating photocatalysts have gained a lot of attention as g-C3N4 is a visible light active photocatalyst with unique and exceptional properties. It also has good photocatalytic activity in waste water treatment and environmental remediation. Many previous reports have studied the logical design and manufacturing method for heterojunction floating photocatalysts and immobilized floating photocatalysts. Based on those studies, we have focused on the g-C3N4 based immobilized and non-immobilized floating photocatalysts for pollutant degradation. We have also categorized immobilized floating photocatalyst based on several lightweight substrates such as expanded perlite and glass microbead. In addition, future challenges have been discussed to maximize solar light absorption and to improve the efficiency of broadband response floating photocatalysts. Floating photocatalysis is an advanced technique in energy conversion and environmental remediation thus requires special consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anchal Rana
- School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, HP, 173229, India
| | - Anita Sudhaik
- School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, HP, 173229, India
| | - Pankaj Raizada
- School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, HP, 173229, India
| | - Van-Huy Nguyen
- School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, HP, 173229, India
| | - Changlei Xia
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210037, China
| | - Aftab Aslam Parwaz Khan
- Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research, King Abdulaziz University, P. O. Box 80203, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia; Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P. O. Box 80203, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sourbh Thakur
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry and Biotechnology, Silesian University of Technology, B. Krzywoustego 4, 44-100, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Phuong Nguyen-Tri
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials for Energy and Environment, Université Du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), 3351, boul. des Forges, C.P. 500, Trois-Rivières, Québec, G9A 5H7, Canada
| | - Chinh Chien Nguyen
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Viet Nam; Faculty of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Viet Nam
| | - Soo Young Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, 145, Anam-ro Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Quyet Van Le
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, 145, Anam-ro Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Pardeep Singh
- School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, HP, 173229, India.
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Balakrishnan A, Chinthala M. Comprehensive review on advanced reusability of g-C 3N 4 based photocatalysts for the removal of organic pollutants. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 297:134190. [PMID: 35248593 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has attained significant research attention in energy and environmental remediation due to its excellent electronic structure, greater physical and chemical properties, and abundance. However, graphitic carbon nitride faces severe problems because of its high recombination rate and higher mass loss of the catalyst during recovery operations. This review emphasizes the methods to overcome the difficulties associated with recovery and reusability of the g-C3N4 based photocatalyst towards the redemption of pollutants present in wastewater. Different strategies like magnetic g-C3N4 based photocatalysts, immobilized photocatalytic systems, and photocatalytic membranes and their usage in photocatalytic applications are well described. Different preparation strategies of the graphic carbon nitride-based composites are elucidated. The key challenges and future perspectives of adopting these methods for photocatalytic applications are also mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akash Balakrishnan
- Process Intensification Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India
| | - Mahendra Chinthala
- Process Intensification Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India.
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Wang H, Zhang C, Kong L, Wang Y, Zhang S, Zhang X, Ding J, Ren N. Solar light photocatalytic transformation of heptachlorobiphenyl (PCB 180) using g-C 3N 4 based magnetic porous photocatalyst. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 427:128105. [PMID: 34973576 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A novel porous core-shell magnetic β-cyclodextrin/graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst (Mβ-CD/GCN) was synthesized and employed in a solar light driven catalytic system for the degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The Mβ-CD/GCN display superior photocatalytic performance on account of porous structure and ultrathin GCN nanosheets design, the former improves the utilization of visible light by multiple scattering and reflection of incident light, and the latter accelerates electron transfer. The ultrahigh specific surface area (1255 m2 g-1) of Mβ-CD/GCN provided a large number of active sites for adsorption and degradation of the target pollution. The pseudo-first order reaction rate constant (kobs) for the degradation of PCB180 by Mβ-CD/GCN was 0.021 min-1, which improved 3.23 times than the bulk GCN. Additionally, the effects of various reaction parameters and water matrices were studied on the degradation of PCB180. Three possible degradation pathways and mechanism of PCB180 were speculated according to the identification of reaction intermediates and detection of reactive species. The solar light driven Mβ-CD/GCN catalytic technology is a promising method not only for the control of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), but also the catalyst could be recovered and reused through simple magnetic separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Ecosystem, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Chenyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Lingru Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Yi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Sijia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Xiulian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Jie Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
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15
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Engineering Commercial TiO 2 Powder into Tailored Beads for Efficient Water Purification. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15010326. [PMID: 35009473 PMCID: PMC8746151 DOI: 10.3390/ma15010326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this study, efficient commercial photocatalyst (Degussa P25) nanoparticles were effectively dispersed and stabilized in alginate, a metal binding biopolymer. Taking advantage of alginate’s superior metal chelating properties, copper nanoparticle-decorated photocatalysts were developed after a pyrolytic or calcination-sintering procedure, yielding ceramic beads with enhanced photocatalytic and mechanical properties, excellent resistance to attrition, and optimized handling compared to powdered photocatalysts. The morphological and structural characteristics were studied using LN2 porosimetry, SEM, and XRD. The abatement of an organic pollutant (Methyl Orange, MO) was explored in the dark and under UV irradiation via batch experiments. The final properties of the photocatalytic beads were defined by both the synthesis procedure and the heat treatment conditions, allowing for their further optimization. It was found that the pyrolytic carbon residuals enabled the adhesion of the TiO2 nanoparticles, acting as binder, and increased the MO adsorption capacity, leading to increased local concentration in the photocatalyst vicinity. Well dispersed Cu nanoparticles were also found to enhance photocatalytic activity. The prepared photocatalysts exhibited increased MO adsorption capacity (up to 3.0 mg/g) and also high photocatalytic efficiency of about 50% MO removal from water solutions, reaching an overall MO rejection of about 80%, at short contact times (3 h). Finally, the prepared photocatalysts kept their efficiency for at least four successive photocatalytic cycles.
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Menezes I, Capelo-Neto J, Pestana CJ, Clemente A, Hui J, Irvine JTS, Nimal Gunaratne HQ, Robertson PKJ, Edwards C, Gillanders RN, Turnbull GA, Lawton LA. Comparison of UV-A photolytic and UV/TiO 2 photocatalytic effects on Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7813 and four microcystin analogues: A pilot scale study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 298:113519. [PMID: 34411798 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
To date, the high cost of supplying UV irradiation has prevented the widespread application of UV photolysis and titanium dioxide based photocatalysis in removing undesirable organics in the water treatment sector. To overcome this problem, the use of UV-LEDs (365 nm) for photolysis and heterogeneous photocatalysis applying TiO2 coated glass beads under UV-LED illumination (365 nm) in a pilot scale reactor for the elimination of Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7813 and four microcystin analogues (MC-LR, -LY, -LW, -LF) with a view to deployment in drinking water reservoirs was investigated. UV-A (365 nm) photolysis was shown to be more effective than the UV/TiO2 photocatalytic system for the removal of Microcystis aeruginosa cells and microcystins. During photolysis, cell density significantly decreased over 5 days from an initial concentration of 5.8 × 106 cells mL-1 until few cells were left. Both intra- and extracellular microcystin concentrations were significantly reduced by 100 and 92 %, respectively, by day 5 of the UV treatment for all microcystin analogues. During UV/TiO2 treatment, there was great variability between replicates, making prediction of the effect on cyanobacterial cell and toxin behavior difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indira Menezes
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil; School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
| | - José Capelo-Neto
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Carlos J Pestana
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Allan Clemente
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Jianing Hui
- School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - John T S Irvine
- School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - H Q Nimal Gunaratne
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Peter K J Robertson
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Edwards
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Ross N Gillanders
- Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Graham A Turnbull
- Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Linda A Lawton
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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Ledakowicz S, Paździor K. Recent Achievements in Dyes Removal Focused on Advanced Oxidation Processes Integrated with Biological Methods. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26040870. [PMID: 33562176 PMCID: PMC7914684 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26040870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last 3 years alone, over 10,000 publications have appeared on the topic of dye removal, including over 300 reviews. Thus, the topic is very relevant, although there are few articles on the practical applications on an industrial scale of the results obtained in research laboratories. Therefore, in this review, we focus on advanced oxidation methods integrated with biological methods, widely recognized as highly efficient treatments for recalcitrant wastewater, that have the best chance of industrial application. It is extremely important to know all the phenomena and mechanisms that occur during the process of removing dyestuffs and the products of their degradation from wastewater to prevent their penetration into drinking water sources. Therefore, particular attention is paid to understanding the mechanisms of both chemical and biological degradation of dyes, and the kinetics of these processes, which are important from a design point of view, as well as the performance and implementation of these operations on a larger scale.
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