Perovskites as Catalysts in Advanced Oxidation Processes for Wastewater Treatment

Role of La-based perovskite catalysts in environmental pollution remediation

Since the advent of the industrial revolution, there has been a constant need of efficient catalysts for abatement of industrial toxic pollutants. This phenomenon necessitated the development of eco-friendly, stable, and economically feasible catalytic materials like lanthanum-based perovskite-type oxides (PTOs) having well-defined crystal structure, excellent thermal, and structural stability, exceptional ionic conductivity, redox behavior, and high tunability. In this review, applicability of La-based PTOs in remediation of pollutants, including CO, NO x and VOCs was addressed. A framework for rationalizing reaction mechanism, substitution effect, preparation methods, support, and catalyst shape has been discussed. Furthermore, reactant conversion efficiencies of best PTOs have been compared with noble-metal catalysts for each application. The catalytic properties of the perovskites including electronic and structural properties have been extensively presented. We highlight that a robust understanding of electronic structure of PTOs will help develop perovskite catalysts for other environmental applications involving oxidation or redox reactions.

Investigation of Catalytic and Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange Using Doped LaMnO3 Compounds

LaMnO3 and 1% Pd-, Ag-, or Y-doped perovskite type nanomaterials were prepared by the sol-gel method, followed by heat treatment at a low temperature (600 °C for 6 h). The investigation through X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy indicated that all samples were well crystallized, without secondary phases, and that the transition metal doping changed the crystal structure from the R-3c space group for the undoped LaMnO3 to the Pm-3m space group for the doped perovskite compounds. In this research paper, the efficiencies of the perovskite LaMnO3 materials for methyl orange removal were analyzed, wherein the effect of the doping ions and of the pH on the catalytic activity were studied together with a kinetic approach for the LaMnO3 materials at different values of the pH. Moreover, in the catalytic activity, it should be noted that a slightly better performance was obtained for the Ag-doped materials compared to the Y- and Pd-doped perovskite samples. The results presented for the perovskite LaMnO3 nanomaterials reinforce the interest in these multifunctional materials to be used in industrial applications; e.g., in water treatment.

Improving of photocatalytic activity of barium ferrate via bismuth and copper co-doping for degradation of paracetamol under visible light irradiation

Nanosized Ba_1-xBi_xFe_1-xCu_xO₃ (12-50 nm) with x values of 0, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 system was prepared using the Pechini method. Structural, morphological, surface and optical characterizations were performed for the prepared samples. Cubic phase was the predominant phase for the undoped BaFeO₃ and Bi and Cu co-doped BaFeO₃ samples. Minor phases of monoclinic Ba₂Fe₂O₅, orthorhombic BaFe₂O₄ and orthorhombic BaCO₃ were identified for all the prepared samples. Ba_0.95Bi_0.05Fe_0.95Cu_0.05O₃ sample has the lowest band gap (2.43 eV). 98.1% paracetamol removal was achieved with 0.75 g/L of Ba_0.95Bi_0.05Fe_0.95Cu_0.05O₃ at pH 9 after 120 min. The paracetamol degradation follows the pseudo first-order kinetics. HO^• is the main oxidative species responsible for the paracetamol degradation. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed at the end of the photocatalytic degradation experiment under optimum operating condition using Ba_0.95Bi_0.05Fe_0.95Cu_0.05O₃ to explain the reaction mechanism and identify the intermediate by-products which is confirmed by ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy study at different reaction times.

Sunlight-Driven AO7 Degradation with Perovskites (La,Ba)(Fe,Ti)O3 as Heterogeneous Photocatalysts

Perovskites of the (La,Ba)(Fe,Ti)O3 family were prepared, characterized, and utilized as heterogeneous photocatalysts, activated by natural sunlight, for environmental remediation of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) aqueous solutions. Catalysts were prepared by the ceramic (CM) and the complex polymerization (CP) methods and characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, and band gap energy. It was found that catalytic properties depend on the synthesis method and annealing conditions. In the photocatalytic assays with sunlight, different AO7 initial concentrations and perovskite amounts were tested. During photocatalytic assays, AO7 and degradation products concentrations were followed by HPLC. Only photocatalysis with BaFeO3-CM and BaTiO3-CP presented AO7 removals higher than that observed for photolysis. However, photolysis leads to the formation of almost exclusively amino-naphthol and sulfanilic acid, whereas some of the perovskites utilized form less-toxic compounds as degradation products, such as carboxylic acids (CA). Partial substitution of Ba by La in BaTiO3-CM does not produce any change in the photocatalytic properties, but the replacement of Ti by Fe in the La0.1Ba0.9TiO3 leads to reduced AO7 removal rate, but with the formation of CAs. The best AO7 removal (92%) was obtained with BaFeO3-CM (750 mg L-1), after 4 h of photocatalytic degradation with solar radiation.

Diclofenac photodegradation with the Perovskites BaFeyTi1-yO3 as catalysts

Perovskite oxides BaFe_yTi_1-yO₃, with y = 0, 0.6, 0.8 and 1, were prepared by ceramic (CM) and complex polymerization methods (CPM) and utilized in UV-LED (365 nm) photocatalytic degradation assays of 25 mg L^-1 diclofenac (DIC) model solutions. BaTiO₃-CM was also used in the photocatalytic degradation test of a real mineral water for human consumption spiked with 2 mg L^-1 DIC. The XRD patterns of the synthesized perovskites showed cubic structure for those prepared by CPM, with distortions of the cubic lattice to hexagonal or tetragonal when prepared by CM, except for BaTiO₃. All the perovskites showed good catalytic activity, higher than photolysis, except BaFeO₃-CM that presented similar results. BaTiO₃-CM and CPM and BaFeO₃-CPM were also utilized in UV-LED photocatalytic DIC degradation assays with peroxydisulfate addition. BaFeO₃-CPM and BaTiO₃-CPM showed better ability to persulfate activation, but the highest mineralization degree was obtained with BaTiO₃-CM. This last perovskite was also able to perform DIC degradation in a real matrix. The studied oxides show potentiality for photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds, with or without persulfate addition. A degradation mechanism is proposed.

Photocatalytic Bactericidal Performance of LaFeO3 under Solar Light: Kinetics, Spectroscopic and Mechanistic Evaluation

Lanthanum orthoferrites are a versatile class of catalysts. Here, the photocatalytic bactericidal performance of LaFeO3 (LF) to inactivate pathogenic microorganisms, i.e., Escherichia coli (E. coli), in water under simulated solar irradiation conditions was investigated. Various competing and contributing factors were covered to visualize the reaction medium consisting of E. coli K12 cells, organic sub-fractions formed by cell destruction, and LF surface. LF solar photocatalytic inactivation (SPCI) kinetics revealed the highest inactivation rate in ultrapure water as expected, followed by distilled water (DW), aqueous solution containing anions and cations (WM) and saline solution (SS). Characterization of the released organic matter was achieved by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques as well as organic carbon contents (DOC). Upon SPCI, significant amounts of K+ along with released protein contents were detected expressing cell wall destruction and lysis. Under the specified experimental conditions, in the presence of released intracellular organic and inorganic components via cell lysis, a significant count of E. coli was still present in SS, whereas almost all bacteria were removed in other matrices due to various challenging reasons. Based on the presented data, SPCI of E. coli using LF as a novel photocatalyst was successfully demonstrated as an alternative and promising method for disinfection purposes.

Progress of Exsolved Metal Nanoparticles on Oxides as High Performance (Electro)Catalysts for the Conversion of Small Molecules

Utilizing electricity and heat from renewable energy to convert small molecules into value-added chemicals through electro/thermal catalytic processes has enormous socioeconomic and environmental benefits. However, the lack of catalysts with high activity, good long-term stability, and low cost strongly inhibits the practical implementation of these processes. Oxides with exsolved metal nanoparticles have recently been emerging as promising catalysts with outstanding activity and stability for the conversion of small molecules, which provides new possibilities for application of the processes. In this review, it starts with an introduction on the mechanism of exsolution, discussing representative exsolution materials, the impacts of intrinsic material properties and external environmental conditions on the exsolution behavior, and the driving forces for exsolution. The performances of exsolution materials in various reactions, such as alkane reforming reaction, carbon monoxide oxidation, carbon dioxide utilization, high temperature steam electrolysis, and low temperature electrocatalysis, are then summarized. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives for the development of exsolution materials as high-performance catalysts are discussed.

Catalysis by Metals on Perovskite-Type Oxides

Perovskites are currently on everyone’s lips and have made it in high-impact scientific journals because of the revolutionary hybrid organic–inorganic lead halide perovskite materials for solar cells [...]

Perovskite Structure Associated with Precious Metals: Influence on Heterogenous Catalytic Process

The use of perovskite-based materials and their derivatives can have an important role in the heterogeneous catalytic field based on photochemical processes. Photochemical reactions have a great potential to solve environmental damage issues. The presence of precious metals in the perovskite structure (i.e., Ag, Au, or Pt) may improve its efficiency significantly. The precious metal may comprise the perovskite lattice as well as form a heterostructure with it. The efficiency of catalytic materials is directly related to processing conditions. Based on this, this review will address the use of perovskite materials combined with precious metal as well as their processing methods for the use in catalyzed reactions.