Semiconductor Electrode Materials Applied in Photoelectrocatalytic Wastewater Treatment—an Overview
Industrial sources of environmental pollution generate huge amounts of industrial wastewater containing various recalcitrant organic and inorganic pollutants that are hazardous to the environment. On the other hand, industrial wastewater can be regarded as a prospective source of fresh water, energy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Catalysts |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/10/4/439 |
| _version_ | 1797570275371384832 |
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| author | Elzbieta Kusmierek |
| author_facet | Elzbieta Kusmierek |
| author_sort | Elzbieta Kusmierek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Industrial sources of environmental pollution generate huge amounts of industrial wastewater containing various recalcitrant organic and inorganic pollutants that are hazardous to the environment. On the other hand, industrial wastewater can be regarded as a prospective source of fresh water, energy, and valuable raw materials. Conventional sewage treatment systems are often not efficient enough for the complete degradation of pollutants and they are characterized by high energy consumption. Moreover, the chemical energy that is stored in the wastewater is wasted. A solution to these problems is an application of photoelectrocatalytic treatment methods, especially when they are coupled with energy generation. The paper presents a general overview of the semiconductor materials applied as photoelectrodes in the treatment of various pollutants. The fundamentals of photoelectrocatalytic reactions and the mechanism of pollutants treatment as well as parameters affecting the treatment process are presented. Examples of different semiconductor photoelectrodes that are applied in treatment processes are described in order to present the strengths and weaknesses of the photoelectrocatalytic treatment of industrial wastewater. This overview is an addition to the existing knowledge with a particular focus on the main experimental conditions employed in the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of various pollutants with the application of semiconductor photoelectrodes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:23:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c952bf82e3ff4b16bc9d894f0a8c3fb7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4344 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:23:36Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Catalysts |
| spelling | doaj.art-c952bf82e3ff4b16bc9d894f0a8c3fb72023-11-19T22:02:25ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442020-04-0110443910.3390/catal10040439Semiconductor Electrode Materials Applied in Photoelectrocatalytic Wastewater Treatment—an OverviewElzbieta Kusmierek0Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116 St., 90-924 Lodz, PolandIndustrial sources of environmental pollution generate huge amounts of industrial wastewater containing various recalcitrant organic and inorganic pollutants that are hazardous to the environment. On the other hand, industrial wastewater can be regarded as a prospective source of fresh water, energy, and valuable raw materials. Conventional sewage treatment systems are often not efficient enough for the complete degradation of pollutants and they are characterized by high energy consumption. Moreover, the chemical energy that is stored in the wastewater is wasted. A solution to these problems is an application of photoelectrocatalytic treatment methods, especially when they are coupled with energy generation. The paper presents a general overview of the semiconductor materials applied as photoelectrodes in the treatment of various pollutants. The fundamentals of photoelectrocatalytic reactions and the mechanism of pollutants treatment as well as parameters affecting the treatment process are presented. Examples of different semiconductor photoelectrodes that are applied in treatment processes are described in order to present the strengths and weaknesses of the photoelectrocatalytic treatment of industrial wastewater. This overview is an addition to the existing knowledge with a particular focus on the main experimental conditions employed in the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of various pollutants with the application of semiconductor photoelectrodes.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/10/4/439semiconductorsphotoelectrocatalysisphotoelectrodeswastewater treatment |
| spellingShingle | Elzbieta Kusmierek Semiconductor Electrode Materials Applied in Photoelectrocatalytic Wastewater Treatment—an Overview Catalysts semiconductors photoelectrocatalysis photoelectrodes wastewater treatment |
| title | Semiconductor Electrode Materials Applied in Photoelectrocatalytic Wastewater Treatment—an Overview |
| title_full | Semiconductor Electrode Materials Applied in Photoelectrocatalytic Wastewater Treatment—an Overview |
| title_fullStr | Semiconductor Electrode Materials Applied in Photoelectrocatalytic Wastewater Treatment—an Overview |
| title_full_unstemmed | Semiconductor Electrode Materials Applied in Photoelectrocatalytic Wastewater Treatment—an Overview |
| title_short | Semiconductor Electrode Materials Applied in Photoelectrocatalytic Wastewater Treatment—an Overview |
| title_sort | semiconductor electrode materials applied in photoelectrocatalytic wastewater treatment an overview |
| topic | semiconductors photoelectrocatalysis photoelectrodes wastewater treatment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/10/4/439 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elzbietakusmierek semiconductorelectrodematerialsappliedinphotoelectrocatalyticwastewatertreatmentanoverview |