Study of Photocatalytic Oxidation of Micropollutants in Water and Intensification Case Study

During the last decades, heterogenous photocatalysis has shown as the most promising advanced oxidation process for the removal of micropollutants due to degradation rate, sustainability, non-toxicity, and low-cost. Synergistic interaction of light irradiation, photocatalysts, and highly reactive species are used to break down pollutants toward inert products. Even though titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the most researched photocatalyst, to overcome shortcomings, various modifications have been made to intensify photocatalytic activity in visible spectra range among which is modification with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Therefore, photocatalytic oxidation and its intensification by photocatalyst’s modification was studied on the example of four micropollutants (diclofenac, DF; imidacloprid, IMI; 1-H benzotriazole, BT; methylene blue, MB) degradation. Compound parabolic collector (CPC) reactor was used as, nowadays, it has been considered the state-of-the-art system due to its usage of both direct and diffuse solar radiation and quantum efficiency. A commercially available TiO2 P25 and nanocomposite of TiO2 and MWCNT were immobilized on a glass fiber mesh by sol-gel method. Full-spectra solar lamps with appropriate UVB and UVA irradiation levels were used in all experiments. Photocatalytic degradation of DF, IMI, BT, and MB by immobilized TiO2 and TiO2/CNT photocatalysts was achieved. Mathematical modelling which included mass transfer and photon absorption was applied and intrinsic reaction rate constants were estimated: kDF=3.56 × 10−10s−1W−0.5m1.5, kIMI=8.90 × 10−11s−1W−0.5m1.5, kBT=1.20 × 10−9s−1W−0.5m1.5, kMB=1.62 × 10−10s−1W−0.5m1.5. Intensification of photocatalysis by TiO2/CNT was observed for DF, IMI, and MB, while that was not the case for BT. The developed model can be effectively applied for different irradiation conditions which makes it extremely versatile and adaptable when predicting the degradation extents throughout the year using sunlight as the energy source at any location.

Dual Use of Copper-Modified TiO2 Nanotube Arrays as Material for Photocatalytic NH3 Degradation and Relative Humidity Sensing

In this paper, we emphasized the dual application of Cu-modified vertically aligned TiO2 nanotube arrays as photocatalyst and a relative humidity sensor. The TiO2 nanotube arrays were obtained by anodization of the titanium layer prepared using radio frequency magnetron sputtering (RFMS) and modified with different copper concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 M) by a wet-impregnation method. The sample modified with 2 M Cu(NO3)2 solution showed the highest efficiency for the NH3 photocatalytic degradation and the most pronounced humidity response in comparison to the other studied samples. In order to investigate the structure and impact of Cu modification, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used. The photocatalytic activity and the kinetic study of ammonia oxidation were studied in a mini-photocatalytic wind tunnel reactor (MWPT), while relative humidity sensing was examined by impedance spectroscopy (IS). Higher NH3 oxidation was a direct consequence of the increased generation of •OH radicals obtained by a more efficient photogenerated charge separation, which is correlated with the increase in the DC conductivity.

Ammonia and methane oxidation on TiO2 supported on glass fiber mesh under artificial solar irradiation

In this work, we present the application of solar photocatalysis for air purification including toxic substances such as ammonia and methane normally related to emissions from agriculture (e.g., poultry and cattle farms), landfills, etc. The study was done in three different laboratory and semi-pilot scale reactors: annular reactor (AR), mini-photocatalytic wind tunnel (MPWT), and photocatalytic wind tunnel (PWT). Reactors present a physical model for estimation of air-borne pollutant degradation over TiO₂-based photocatalytic layer in respect to optimal operating conditions (relative humidity, air/gas flow, and feed concentration). All studies were performed under artificial solar irradiation with different portions of UVB and UVA light. The application of solar photocatalysis for air purification was evaluated based on thorough monitoring of pollutants in inlet and outlet streams. The kinetic study resulted with intrinsic reaction rate constants: k_p,int,NH3 = (3.05 ± 0.04) × 10^-3 cm^4.5 mW^-0.5 g^-1 min^-1 and k_p,int,CH4 = (1.81 ± 0.02) × 10^-2 cm^4.5 mW^-0.5 g^-1 min^-1, calculated using axial dispersion model including mass transfer considerations and first-order reaction rate kinetics with photon absorption effects. The results of photocatalytic oxidation of NH₃ and CH₄ confirmed continuous reduction of pollutant content in the air stream due to the oxidation of NH₃ to N₂ and CH₄ to CO and CO₂, respectively. The application of solar photocatalysis in outdoor air protection is still a pioneering work in the field, and the results obtained in this work represent a good basis for sizing large-scale devices and applying them to prevent further environmental pollution. In the current study, a TiO₂ P25 supported on a glass fiber mesh was prepared from commercially available materials. The system designed in this way is easy to perform, operate, and relatively inexpensive.

Intensification of Dihydroxybenzenes Degradation over Immobilized TiO2 Based Photocatalysts under Simulated Solar Light

The work is focused on the assessment of possible methods for intensification of photocatalytic degradation of common water borne pollutants. Solar photocatalysis poses certain limitations for large scale application with several possible reactor designs which have shown an optimal performance. In the current study, a comparison between two types of pilot scale reactors was made: a flat-plate cascade reactor (FPCR) and tubular reactor with a compound parabolic collector (CPC). Apart from the reactor design, another aspect of possible intensification was a photocatalyst formulation. The efficiency of photocatalytic films that consisted of pure TiO2 nanoparticles was compared to the efficiency of films that consisted of TiO2/CNT composites. Intensification assessment was performed via detailed kinetic modelling, combining the optical properties of films, irradiation conditions and reactor mass balance. Intensification was expressed via intensification indices. Results showed the advantage of the CPC-based reactor design and an unbiased effect of sensitizing agent (CNT) in the photocatalytic film formulation.

Enhanced Visible-Light Driven Photocatalytic Activity of Ag@TiO2 Photocatalyst Prepared in Chitosan Matrix

Ag doped TiO2 photocatalysts (Ag@TiO2) were prepared with an aim to extend the absorption range of TiO2 into the visible region, for tentative application under solar irradiation. Photocatalyst synthesized by the novel method using chitosan for reduction of Ag+ to Ag0 nanoparticles was compared to similar catalysts previously reported. The photocatalytic activity of Ag@TiO2 obtained by a simple novel method was evaluated based on degradation of salicylic acid as a model compound. The higher activity under visible irradiation can be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance and suppression of the electron-hole recombination when deposition of Ag nanoparticles on TiO2 was achieved using chitosan. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), selected area diffraction (SAED), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photochromism of Ag was observed and explained.

Diethylene Glycol-Assisted Organized TiO2 Nanostructures for Photocatalytic Wastewater Treatment Ceramic Membranes

A high-performance photocatalytic ceramic membrane was developed by direct growth of a TiO2 structure on a macroporous alumina support using a hydrothermal method. The morphological nanostructure of TiO2 on the support was successfully controlled via the interaction between the TiO2 precursor and a capping agent, diethylene glycol (DEG). The growth of anatase TiO2 nanorods was observed both on the membrane surface and pore walls. The well-organized nanorods TiO2 reduced the perturbation of the alumina support, thus controlling the hydrolysis rate of the TiO2 precursor and reducing membrane fouling. However, a decrease in the amount of the DEG capping agent significantly reduced membrane permeability, owing to the formation of nonporous clusters of TiO2 on the support. Distribution of the organized TiO2 nanorods on the support was very effective for the improvement of the organic removal efficiency and antifouling under ultraviolet illumination. The TiO2 nanostructure associated with the reactive crystalline phase, rather than the amount of layered TiO2 formed on the support, which was found to be the key to controlling photocatalytic membrane reactivity. These experimental findings would provide a new approach for the development of efficacious photocatalytic membranes with improved performance for wastewater treatment.

Synthesis of TiO2 (B) and High-temperature Stable Anatase TiO2 Nanowires by Hydrothermal Method and Investigation of Photocatalytic Activity

In this study, TiO₂ nanowires (TNWs) were synthesized through hydrothermal method and were characterized using X-Ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and BET techniques. Monoclinic TiO₂ (B) is the dominant phase of TNWs up to 600°C which is completely transformed into a highly crystalline anatase phase at 800°C. The photocatalytic activity of TNWs, prepared at various calcination temperatures, was investigated in the removal of Rhodamine B as an organic model pollutant. The results indicated that the photocatalytic activity of TNWs, prepared at 800°C calcination temperature, was better than that of other samples and even TiO₂ -P25 nanoparticles.