Effect of adsorbents coated with titanium dioxide on the photocatalytic degradation of propoxur

Degradation of the insecticide propoxur by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes using a boron-doped diamond/air-diffusion cell

A solution with 0.38 mM of the pesticide propoxur (PX) at pH 3.0 has been comparatively treated by electrochemical oxidation with electrogenerated H₂O₂ (EO-H₂O₂), electro-Fenton (EF), and photoelectro-Fenton (PEF). The trials were carried out with a 100-mL boron-doped diamond (BDD)/air-diffusion cell. The EO-H₂O₂ process had the lowest oxidation ability due to the slow reaction of intermediates with ^•OH produced from water discharge at the BDD anode. The EF treatment yielded quicker mineralization due to the additional ^•OH formed between added Fe²⁺ and electrogenerated H₂O₂. The PEF process was the most powerful since it led to total mineralization by the combined oxidative action of hydroxyl radicals and UVA irradiation. The PX decay agreed with a pseudo-first-order kinetics in EO-H₂O₂, whereas in EF and PEF, it obeyed a much faster pseudo-first-order kinetics followed by a much slower one, which are related to the oxidation of its Fe(II) and Fe(III) complexes, respectively. EO-H₂O₂ showed similar oxidation ability within the pH range 3.0-9.0. The effect of current density and Fe²⁺ and substrate contents on the performance of the EF process was examined. Two primary aromatic products were identified by LC-MS during PX degradation.

UV-induced photocatalytic degradation of aqueous acetaminophen: the role of adsorption and reaction kinetics

Nanostructured titania supported on activated carbon (AC), termed as integrated photocatalytic adsorbents (IPCAs), were prepared by ultrasonication and investigated for the photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen (AMP), a common analgesic and antipyretic drug. The IPCAs showed high affinity towards AMP (in dark adsorption studies), with the amount adsorbed proportional to the TiO2 content; the highest adsorption was at 10 wt% TiO2. Equilibrium isotherm studies showed that the adsorption followed the Langmuir model, indicating the dependence of the reaction on an initial adsorption step, with maximum adsorption capacity of 28.4 mg/g for 10 % TiO2 IPCA. The effects of initial pH, catalyst amount and initial AMP concentration on the photocatalytic degradation rates were studied. Generally, the AMP photodegradation activity of the IPCAs was better than that of bare TiO2. Kinetic studies on the photocatalytic degradation of AMP under UV suggest that the degradation followed Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetics, with an adsorption rate constant (K) that was considerably higher than the photocatalytic rate constant (k r), indicating that the photocatalysis of AMP is the rate-determining step during the adsorption/photocatalysis process.

Decontamination of textile wastewater via TiO2/activated carbon composite materials

Water scarcity and pollution rank equal to climate change as the most urgent environmental turmoil for the 21st century. To date, the percolation of textile effluents into the waterways and aquifer systems, remain an intricate conundrum abroad the nations. With the renaissance of activated carbon, there has been a steadily growing interest in the research field. Recently, the adoption of titanium dioxide, a prestigious advanced photo-catalyst which formulates the new growing branch of activated carbon composites for enhancement of adsorption rate and discoloration capacity, has attracted stern consideration and supports worldwide. Confirming the assertion, this paper presents a state of art review of titanium dioxide/activated carbon composites technology, its fundamental background studies, and environmental implications. Moreover, its major challenges together with the future expectation are summarized and discussed. Conclusively, the expanding of activated carbons composites material represents a potentially viable and powerful tool, leading to the plausible improvement of environmental conservation.

Trapping and decomposing of color compounds from recycled water by TiO(2) coated activated carbon

Five types of commercially available activated carbons (ACs) were coated with TiO(2) nanoparticles prepared using a sol-gel method. Color and trace organics remaining in the actual treated effluent were adsorbed by TiO(2) coated ACs. The absorbed organic compounds were then decomposed using a photocatalytic process, and the ACs were regenerated for reuse. The efficiency of the process was assessed by the characterization of true color and A(254) (the organics absorption at the wavelength of 254nm) at the beginning and the end of the experiment. The effects of UV light source, UV irradiation time, hydrogen peroxide and ultrasound on the efficiency of photocatalytic regeneration were also investigated. Significant differences in the efficiency were observed between uncoated ACs and TiO(2) coated samples. Among the 5 types of ACs tested, AC-3, AC-4 and their coated ones achieved better efficiency in color and A(254) removal, with around 90% or more color and A(254) being removed within 1h of treatment. The data obtained in this study also demonstrated that the photocatalytic process was effective for decomposing the adsorbed compounds and regenerating the spent TiO(2)/AC-3. Finally, it was found that this regeneration process could be greatly enhanced with the assistance of H(2)O(2) and ultrasound by reducing the required regeneration time.

Inactivated properties of activated carbon-supported TiO2 nanoparticles for bacteria and kinetic study

The activated carbon-supported TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2/AC) were prepared by a properly controlled sol-gel method. The effects of activated carbons (AC) support on inactivated properties of TiO2 nanoparticles were evaluated by photocatalytic inactivation experiments of Escherichia coli. The key factors affecting the inactivation efficiency were investigated, including electric power of lamp, temperature, and pH values. The results show that the TiO2/AC composites have high inactivation properties of E. coli in comparison with pure TiO2 powder. The kinetics of photocatalytic inactivation of E. coli was found to follow a pseudo-first order rate law for TiO2/AC composites, and kinetic behavior could be described in terms of a modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. The values of the adsorption equilibrium constants for the bacteria, K(c), and for the rate constants, k(r), were certainly depended on TiO2 content. At 47 wt.% TiO2 coatings with the highest rate constant, the K(c) and k(r) were 1.17 x 10(-8) L/cfu and 1.43 x 10(6) cfu/(L x min), respectively. The variety of parameters shows significant effects on inactivation rate. The outer layer of bacteria decomposed first resulting in inactivation of cell, and with further illumination, the cells nearly decomposed.

A TiO2/AC composite photocatalyst with high activity and easy separation prepared by a hydrothermal method

In the present work, a TiO2/activated carbon (AC) photocatalyst with high activity and easy separation was prepared using a hydrothermal method. Phenol, methyl orange (MO) and Cr(VI) were used as target pollutants to test the activity and decantability. SEM, XRD, FTIR, diffuse reflectance spectra (UV/DRS) and N2 adsorption isotherms were used to characterize the crystalline and electronic structure. Results show that the AC composite has a significant effect on the TiO2 activity. With suitable AC content, the TiO2/xAC catalysts prepared were much more active. The TiO2/5AC catalyst exhibited easy separation and less deactivation after several runs, and was less sensitive to pH changes. UV/DRS revealed that no electronic bandgap changes in TiO2 occurred on addition of the AC. SEM and XRD results suggest that better TiO2 distribution can be achieved when an optimal AC content is used. A Ti-O-C bond was formed and a slight conjugation effect appeared between the AC bulk and TiO2. The advantages of the obtained TiO2/5AC catalyst revealed its great practical potential in wastewater treatment.

Removal of methanol from pulp and paper mills using combined activated carbon adsorption and photocatalytic regeneration

Methanol is one of the major hazardous air pollutants emitted from chemical pulp mills. Its collection and treatment is required by the Maximum Achievable Control Technology portion of the 1998 Cluster Rule. The objective of this study is to investigate the technical feasibility of combined adsorption and photocatalytic regeneration for the removal and destruction of methanol. To facilitate the regeneration, activated carbon (AC) was coated with commercially available photocatalyst by a spray desiccation method. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted in a fixed-bed reactor equipped with an 8 W black light UV lamp (peak wavelength at 365 nm) at the center. The photocatalyst loaded onto AC had no significant impact on the adsorption capacity of the carbon. High humidity was found to greatly reduce the material's capacity in the adsorption and simultaneous adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation of methanol. The photocatalytic regeneration process is limited by the desorption of the adsorbate. Increasing desorption rate by using purge air greatly increased the regeneration capacity. When the desorption rate was greater than the photocatalytic oxidation rate, however, part of the methanol was directly desorbed without degradation.

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by a combination of TiO2 and activated carbon fibers

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution was investigated using TiO2 immobilized on activated carbon fibers (ACFs). The TiO2 and ACF combination (TiO2/ACF) was prepared by using epoxy as the precursor of the link between TiO2 and ACFs, followed by calcination at 460 degrees C in a N2 atmosphere. The TiO2/ACF composite prepared was easier to handle than the original TiO2 powder in suspension. More significantly, the TiO2/ACF composite can be used repeatedly without a decline in photodegradation ability. After six cycles, the amount of MB removal for the TiO2/ACF composite was still slightly higher than that for fresh P25 TiO2 in suspension. Through measurement of chemical oxygen demand in the solution and the concentration of ammonium generated during degradation of MB, it was confirmed that MB molecules are mineralized instead of adsorbed by ACFs.

Disposal and degradation of pesticide waste

Generation of pesticide waste is inevitable during every agricultural operation from storage to use and equipment cleanup. Large-scale pesticide manufacturers can afford sophisticated recovery, treatment, and cleanup techniques. Small-scale pesticide users, for example, single farms or small application businesses, struggle with both past waste problems, including contaminated soils, and disposal of unused product and equipment rinsewater. Many of these problems have arisen as a result of inability to properly handle spills during, equipment loading and rinsewater generated after application. Small-scale facilities also face continued problems of wastewater handling. Old, obsolete pesticide stocks are a vexing problem in numerous developing countries. Pesticide waste is characterized by high concentrations of a diversity of chemicals and associated adjuvants. Dissipation of chemicals at elevated concentrations is much slower than at lower concentrations, in part because of microbial toxicity and mass transfer limitations. High concentrations of pesticides may also move faster to lower soil depths, especially when pore water becomes saturated wish a compound. Thus, if pesticide waste is not properly disposed of, groundwater and surface water contamination become probable. The Waste Management Hierarchy developed as an Australian Code of Practice can serve as a guide for development of a sound waste management plan. In order of desirability, the course of actions include waste avoidance, waste reduction, waste recycling, waste treatment, and waste disposal. Proper management of pesticide stocks, including adequate storage conditions, good inventory practices, and regular turnover of products,. will contribute to waste avoidance and reduction over the long-term. Farmers can also choose to use registered materials that have the lowest recommended application rates or are applied in the least volume of water. Wastewater that is generated during equipment rinsing can be recycled by spraying it onto cropland, thus avoiding a soil contamination problem. If it is not feasible to spray out rinsates, then water treatment becomes necessary. However, for small waste generators, practical technology is still too experimental and not easily implemented on an individual farm or at a small application business. Nevertheless, research has been quite active in application of advanced oxidation processes (UV/ozonation: photoassisted Fenton reaction: photocatalysis using TiO2). Obsolete pesticide stocks in developing countries are being packaged and shipped to developed countries for incineration. Contaminated soil can also be incinerated, but this is not practical nor affordable for small waste generators. Chemical degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides may be amenable to dechlorination by alkali polyethylene glycol treatment, but further study is needed to make the technique practical for small waste generators. Contaminated soils may be amenable to cleanup by one of several biological treatment methods, including composting, landfarming, and bioaugmentation/ biostimulation. Composting and landfarming (which may be used in combination with biostimulation) may be the most practical of the biological methods that is immediately ready for implementation by small-scale pesticide waste generators.