Tungstate doped TiO2-SiO2 aerogels for preferential photocatalytic degradation of methamphetamine in seizure samples containing caffeine under simulated sunlight

Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Degradation of Selected Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) Using Tungsten Doped TiO2: Effect of the Tungsten Precursors and Solvents

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) which include antibiotics such as tetracycline (TC) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), etc., have attracted increasing attention worldwide due to their potential threat to the aquatic environment and human health. In this work, a facile sol-gel method was developed to prepare tungsten-doped TiO2 with tunable W5+/W6+ ratio for the removal of PPCPs. The influence of solvents in the synthesis of the three different tungsten precursors doped TiO2 is also taken into account. WCl6, ammonium metatungstate (AMT), and Na2WO4●2H2O not only acted as the tungsten precursors but also controlled the tungsten ratio. The photocatalyst prepared by WCl6 as the tungsten precursor and ethanol as the solvent showed the highest photodegradation performance for ciprofloxacin (CIP) and tetracycline (TC), and the photodegradation performance for tetracycline (TC) was 2.3, 2.8, and 7.8 times that of AMT, Na2WO4●2H2O as the tungsten precursors and pristine TiO2, respectively. These results were attributed to the influence of the tungsten precursors and solvents on the W5+/W6+ ratio, sample crystallinity and surface properties. This study provides an effective method for the design of tungsten-doped TiO2 with tunable W5+/W6+ ratio, which has a profound impact on future studies in the field of photocatalytic degradation of PPCPs using an environmentally friendly approach.

Recent advances and future trends in metal oxide photocatalysts for removal of pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater: a comprehensive review

The rapid and widespread increase in pharmaceutical micropollutants (PMPs) poses a significant and immediate threat to ecosystems and human health globally. With the demand for clean water becoming increasingly critical, particularly amid escalating global water scarcity challenges, there is an urgent need for innovative approaches. Among the potential solutions, metal oxide photocatalysts such as titanium dioxide-based (TiB) and zinc oxide-based (ZnB) have garnered attention due to their cost-effectiveness, efficient photodegradation capabilities, and inherent stability. This comprehensive review explores recent advancements in the application of TiB and ZnB for the removal of PMPs from wastewater. It examines the multifaceted impacts of PMPs on environmental and public health, evaluates various techniques for their removal, and assesses design strategies aimed at maximizing the photocatalytic efficiency of TiB and ZnB. The mechanisms responsible for the photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical micropollutants using TiB and ZnB photocatalysts are comprehensively detailed. Finally, the review outlines the prospects and challenges associated with the use of TiB and ZnB photocatalysts for the removal of PMPs from wastewater. It emphasizes their potential to effectively mitigate PMP contaminants and make substantial contributions to sustainable water management practices in the face of escalating environmental and public health concerns.

Synthesis of solar-driven Cu-doped graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst for enhanced removal of caffeine in wastewater

Caffeine (CaF), a widely consumed compound, has been associated with various harmful effects on human health, including metabolic, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive disorders. Moreover, it poses a signifincant threat to organisms and aquatic ecosystems, leading to water pollution concerns. Therefore, the removal of CaF from wastewater is crucial for mitigating water pollution and minimizing its detrimental impacts on both humans and the environment. In this study, a solar-driven Cu-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Cu/CN) photocatalyst was synthesized and evaluated for its effectiveness in oxidizing CaF in wastewater. The Cu/CN photocatalyst, with a low band gap energy of 2.58eV, exhibited superior performance in degrading CaF compared to pure graphitic carbon nitride (CN). Under solar light irradiation, CuCN achieved a remarkable CaF degradation efficiency of 98.7% CaF, surpassing CN's efficiency of 74.5% by 24.2%. The synthesized Cu/CN photocatalyst demonstrated excellent removal capability, achieving a removal rate of over 88% for CaF in wastewater. Moreover, the reusability test showed that Cu/CN could be successfully reused up to five cycles maintaining a high removal efficiency of 74% for CaF in the fifth cycle. Additionally, the study elucidated the oxidation mechanism of CaF using solar-driven Cu/CN photocatalyst and highlighted the environmental implications of the process.

NaYF4:Yb3+(58%),Tm3+@NaYF4@Au nanocomposite for 4-nitrophenol ultrasensitive quantitative detection and highly efficient catalytic reduction

NaYF4:Yb3+(58%),Tm3+@NaYF4@Au composite nanomaterials were designed and synthesized through condition optimization for the quantitative detection and catalytic reduction of 4-NP.

Fabrication of novel carbon species into porous g-C3N4 nanosheet frameworks with enhanced photocatalytic performance

A novel carbon-species-modified g-C₃N₄ nanosheet photocatalyst was successfully obtained and displayed superior photocatalytic degradation performance.