Unraveling the Origin of Enhanced Activity of the Nb2O5/H2O2 System in the Elimination of Ciprofloxacin: Insights into the Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Interface Processes

Role of Nb2O5 Crystal Phases on the Photocatalytic Conversion of Lignin Model Molecules and Selectivity for Value-Added Products

The photocatalytic conversion in aqueous media of phenol and guaiacol as a lignin model compound using Nb2O5 with different crystal phases was studied. Nb2O5 particles were synthesized using hydrothermal methods, where it was observed that changes in the solvent control their morphology and crystal phase. Different photocatalytic behavior of Nb2O5 was observed with the selected model compounds, indicating that its selection directly impacts the resulting conversion and selectivity rates as well as the reaction pathway, highlighting the relevance of model molecule selection. Photocatalytic conversion of phenol showed conversion rate (C%) up to 25 % after 2 h irradiation and high selectivity (S%) to pyrogallol (up to 50 %). Orthorhombic Nb2O5 spheres favored conversion through free hydroxyl radicals while monoclinic rods did not convert phenol. Guaiacol photocatalytic oxidation showed high conversion rate but lower selectivity. Orthorhombic and monoclinic Nb2O5 favored the formation of resorcinol with S % ~0.43 % (C % ~33 %) and ~13 % (C % ~27 %) respectively. The mixture of both phases enhanced the guaiacol conversion rate to ~55 % with ~17 % of selectivity to salicylaldehyde. The use of radical scavengers provided information to elucidate the reaction pathway for these model compounds, showing that different reaction pathways may be obtained for the same photocatalyst if the model compound is changed.

Copper(II) phosphate as a promising catalyst for the degradation of ciprofloxacin via photo-assisted Fenton-like process

This work aims to unravel the potential of copper(II) phosphate as a new promising heterogenous catalyst for the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) in the presence of H2O2 and/or visible light (λ > 400 nm). For this purpose, copper(II) phosphate was prepared by a facile precipitation method and fully characterized. Of our particular interest was the elucidation of the kinetics of CIP degradation on the surface of this heterogeneous catalyst, identification of the main reactive oxygen species responsible for the oxidative degradation of CIP, and the evaluation of the degradation pathways of this model antibiotic pollutant. It was found that the degradation of the antibiotic proceeded according to the pseudo-first-order kinetics. Copper(II) phosphate exhibited ca. 7 times higher CIP degradation rate in a Fenton-like process than commercial CuO (0.00155 vs. 0.00023 min-1, respectively). Furthermore, the activity of this metal phosphate could be significantly improved upon exposure of the reaction medium to visible light (reaction rate = 0.00445 min-1). In a photo-assisted Fenton-like process, copper(II) phosphate exhibited the highest activity in CIP degradation from among all reference samples used in this study, including CuO, Fe2O3, CeO2 and other metal phosphates. The main active species responsible for the degradation of CIP were hydroxyl radicals.

Effects of drought and salt stress on seed germination and seedling growth of Elymus nutans

Drought and soil salinization are global environmental issues, and Elymus nutans play an important role in vegetation restoration in arid and saline environments due to their excellent stress resistance. In the process of vegetation restoration, the stage from germination to seedling growth of forage is crucial. This experiment studied the effects of PEG-6000 simulated drought stress and NaCl simulated salinization stress on the germination of E. nutans seeds, and explored the growth of forage seedlings from sowing to 28 days under drought and salinization stress conditions. The results showed that under the same environmental water potential, there were significant differences in responses of seed germination, seedling growth, organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus of above-ground and underground parts of E. nutans to drought stress and salinization stress. Using the membership function method to comprehensively evaluate the seed germination and seedling indicators of E. nutans, it was found that under the same environmental water potential, E. nutans was more severely affected by drought stress during both the seed germination and seedling growth stages. E. nutans showed better salt tolerance than drought resistance.

Effects of experimental bleaching gels containing co-doped titanium dioxide and niobium pentoxide combined with violet light

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the study is to evaluate the bleaching potential of 6% hydrogen peroxide (6% HP) gels containing NF_TiO2 or Nb2O5 irradiated with a violet LED light and the effects on enamel mineral content and surface morphology.

METHODS

Particles were synthesized, and experimental gels were chemically analyzed by preliminary and accelerated stability tests, pH, and HP decomposition rate. Bovine enamel blocks were treated with 6% HP gels containing (n = 10): 5% NF_TiO2, 5% Nb2O5, 2.5% NF_TiO2 + 2.5% Nb2O5 or without particles (6% HP), irradiated or not with LED, and the control was treated with 35% HP. Color (∆E00) and whitening index (∆WID) variations, surface microhardness (SH), average roughness (∆Ra), Ca-P concentration (EDS), and enamel morphology (SEM) were assessed. Bleaching was performed in 3 sessions of 30 min and 7-day intervals. Data were submitted to two- (pH, decomposition rate, ∆E00, and ∆WID) or three-way ANOVA and Bonferroni (SH), Kruskal-Wallis (∆Ra), and Dunnet tests (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

No changes in the gel's color, odor, or translucency were observed. The pH (6 to 6.5) remained stable over time, and light irradiation boosted the HP decomposition rate. NF_TiO2 and Nb2O5-containing gels displayed higher ∆E00 and ΔWID when light-irradiated (p < 0.05). Nb2O5 and Nb2O5 + NF_TiO2 decreased enamel SH (p < 0.05), but no SH changes were found among groups (p > 0.05). No differences among groups were noted in ∆Ra, Ca-P content, and enamel morphology after treatments (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Experimental light-irradiated 6% HP gels containing NF_TiO2 or Nb2O5 were chemically stable and exhibited bleaching potential comparable with 35% HP.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Low-concentrated HP gels containing NF_TiO2 or Nb2O5 and light-irradiated stand as a possible alternative to in-office bleaching.

Insight into the LED-assisted deposition of platinum nanoparticles on the titania surface: understanding the effect of LEDs

This paper proposes a novel LED-assisted deposition of platinum nanoparticles on the titania surface. For the first time, this process was supported by a UV-LED solution. We used two light sources with different wavelengths (λ_max = 365 and 395 nm), and power (P = 1, 5, and 10 W) because the photodeposition process based on LEDs has not been defined. The TiO₂-Pt material was discovered to be nano-crystalline anatase particles with nano-platinum particles deposited on the surface of titanium dioxide. Furthermore, the luminescence intensity decreased when Pt was added to TiO₂, indicating that charge carrier recombination was reduced. The spectra matching of the photocatalyst and LED reactor was performed for the first time in this work. We proposed a convenient LED reactor that focused light in the range of 350-450 nm, allowing us to effectively use photo-oxidative properties of TiO₂-Pt materials in the process of removing 4-chlorophenol. In the presented work, the LED light source plays a dual role. They first induce the platinum photodeposition process, before becoming an important component of tailored photoreactors, which is an important innovative aspect of this research.

Phosphate doping as a promising approach to improve reactivity of Nb2O5 in catalytic activation of hydrogen peroxide and removal of methylene blue via adsorption and oxidative degradation

This study is devoted to the evaluation of the influence of phosphate dopants on the reactivity of Nb₂O₅-based nanomaterials in the combined catalytic activation of H₂O₂ and the elimination of methylene blue (MB) from an aqueous solution via adsorption and chemical degradation. For this purpose, several niobia-based catalysts doped with various amounts of phosphate were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method and subsequent calcination. Phosphate doping was shown to strongly enhance the ability of Nb₂O₅ to activate H₂O₂, as well as to adsorb and degrade MB. The most pronounced differences in the reactivity of the parent Nb₂O₅ and phosphate-doped samples were observed under strongly acidic conditions (pH ~ 2.4), at which the most active modified catalysts (Nb/P molar ratio = 5/1) was approximately 6 times more efficient in the removal of MB. The observed enhancement of reactivity was attributed to the increased generation of singlet oxygen ¹O₂, which was identified as the main oxidizing agent responsible for efficient degradation of MB. To our knowledge, it is the first report revealing that phosphate doping of Nb₂O₅ resulted in an improved activity of niobia in the adsorption and degradation of organic pollutants.