Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants with N-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Using Simulated Sunlight in Real Water Matrices
In the present work, the photodegradation performances of N-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalysts with enhanced absorption of visible light were exploited for the abatement of some representative contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Pristine TiO<sub>2</sub> and N-TiO<su...
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Inorganics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6740/11/11/439 |
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| author | Elisa Gaggero Arianna Giovagnoni Alessia Zollo Paola Calza Maria Cristina Paganini |
| author_facet | Elisa Gaggero Arianna Giovagnoni Alessia Zollo Paola Calza Maria Cristina Paganini |
| author_sort | Elisa Gaggero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the present work, the photodegradation performances of N-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalysts with enhanced absorption of visible light were exploited for the abatement of some representative contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Pristine TiO<sub>2</sub> and N-TiO<sub>2</sub> were synthesized using hydrothermal (HT) and sol–gel (SG) routes, they were characterized using XRD and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and their band gaps were determined via analysis in diffuse reflectance. Their photodegradation efficiency was tested on a mixture of recalcitrant organic pollutants, namely, benzotriazole, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, and bisphenol A, using a solar simulator lamp with two different cut-off filters (λ > 340 nm and λ > 400 nm). The evaluation of the photocatalytic performances was initially carried out in spiked ultrapure water and subsequently in aqueous matrices of increasing complexity such as Po River water and water coming from an aquaculture plant. The exclusive utilization of visible light (λ > 400 nm) highlighted the advantage of introducing the dopant into the TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalyst since this modification allows for the material to be responsive to visible light, which is not sufficient in the case of pristine TiO<sub>2</sub> and the higher efficiency of materials obtained via the sol–gel route. Thanks to the doping, improved performance was obtained in both ultrapure water and real water matrices, indicating the potential of the doped material for future applications in the field. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:44:05Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-6740 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:44:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Inorganics |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d95ace024204356aeaf57ac5e9a37972023-11-24T14:48:28ZengMDPI AGInorganics2304-67402023-11-01111143910.3390/inorganics11110439Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants with N-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Using Simulated Sunlight in Real Water MatricesElisa Gaggero0Arianna Giovagnoni1Alessia Zollo2Paola Calza3Maria Cristina Paganini4Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 5/7, 10126 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 5/7, 10126 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 5/7, 10126 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 5/7, 10126 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 5/7, 10126 Turin, ItalyIn the present work, the photodegradation performances of N-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalysts with enhanced absorption of visible light were exploited for the abatement of some representative contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Pristine TiO<sub>2</sub> and N-TiO<sub>2</sub> were synthesized using hydrothermal (HT) and sol–gel (SG) routes, they were characterized using XRD and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and their band gaps were determined via analysis in diffuse reflectance. Their photodegradation efficiency was tested on a mixture of recalcitrant organic pollutants, namely, benzotriazole, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, and bisphenol A, using a solar simulator lamp with two different cut-off filters (λ > 340 nm and λ > 400 nm). The evaluation of the photocatalytic performances was initially carried out in spiked ultrapure water and subsequently in aqueous matrices of increasing complexity such as Po River water and water coming from an aquaculture plant. The exclusive utilization of visible light (λ > 400 nm) highlighted the advantage of introducing the dopant into the TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalyst since this modification allows for the material to be responsive to visible light, which is not sufficient in the case of pristine TiO<sub>2</sub> and the higher efficiency of materials obtained via the sol–gel route. Thanks to the doping, improved performance was obtained in both ultrapure water and real water matrices, indicating the potential of the doped material for future applications in the field.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6740/11/11/439N-doped TiO<sub>2</sub>photocatalysiscontaminants of emerging concern |
| spellingShingle | Elisa Gaggero Arianna Giovagnoni Alessia Zollo Paola Calza Maria Cristina Paganini Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants with N-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Using Simulated Sunlight in Real Water Matrices Inorganics N-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalysis contaminants of emerging concern |
| title | Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants with N-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Using Simulated Sunlight in Real Water Matrices |
| title_full | Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants with N-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Using Simulated Sunlight in Real Water Matrices |
| title_fullStr | Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants with N-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Using Simulated Sunlight in Real Water Matrices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants with N-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Using Simulated Sunlight in Real Water Matrices |
| title_short | Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants with N-Doped TiO<sub>2</sub> Using Simulated Sunlight in Real Water Matrices |
| title_sort | photocatalytic degradation of emerging contaminants with n doped tio sub 2 sub using simulated sunlight in real water matrices |
| topic | N-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalysis contaminants of emerging concern |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6740/11/11/439 |
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