Starch bio-template synthesis of W-doped CeO2 catalyst for selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3: influence of ignition temperature

Cerium oxide: synthesis, brief characterization, and optimization of the photocatalytic activity against phenazopyridine in an aqueous solution

Water pollution by antibiotics is a global crisis, and its risk is critically more severe due to the explosive use of these drug compounds. A critical effective removal method to diminish this risk is heterogeneous photocatalysis and optimizing the conditions to reach higher mineralization efficiency. CeO₂ anoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. A cubic structural crystallite phase was detected that had crystallite sizes of 17.9 and 16.7 nm estimated by the Scherrer and Williamson-Hall models. A typical FTIR absorption band for the Ce-O stretching absorption has appeared at 554 cm^-1. Based on DRS data and the Kubelka-Munk and Tauc models, Eg values of 2.80, 3.06, 3.12, and 3.13 eV were obtained for n-values of 1/2, 2, 3/2, and 3, respectively. pHpzc of CeO₂ NPs was about 5.7. The direct photolysis and surface adsorption processes have no critical role in phenazopyridine (PP) removal by appearing with 2.7 and 6.7% removal efficiencies, respectively. Due to the highest photocatalytic activity of CeO₂ NPs toward PP, the effects of the critical operating variable on the activity were evaluated, and the optimal conditions were as catalyst dose, 0.7 g/L; pH, 6; irradiation time, 90 min; and C_PP, 20 ppm. The Hinshelwood kinetics equation plot was y =  - 6.6442 - 0.4677x (r² = 0.9296), in which its slope as the rate constant of the photodegradation process was 0.4677 min^-1 (corresponding to a t_1/2 value of 1.48 min).

Nanostructured Ceria: Biomolecular Templates and (Bio)applications

Ceria (CeO2) nanostructures are well-known in catalysis for energy and environmental preservation and remediation. Recently, they have also been gaining momentum for biological applications in virtue of their unique redox properties that make them antioxidant or pro-oxidant, depending on the experimental conditions and ceria nanomorphology. In particular, interest has grown in the use of biotemplates to exert control over ceria morphology and reactivity. However, only a handful of reports exist on the use of specific biomolecules to template ceria nucleation and growth into defined nanostructures. This review focusses on the latest advancements in the area of biomolecular templates for ceria nanostructures and existing opportunities for their (bio)applications.