Utilization of TiO2 deposited on glass plates for removal of metals from aqueous wastes

Photo-catalyzed degradation of hazardous dye methyl orange by use of a composite catalyst consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide

The high rate of electron/hole pair recombination reduces the quantum yield of the processes with TiO(2) and represents its major drawback. Adding a co-adsorbent increases the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO(2). In order to hybridize the photocatalytic activity of TiO(2) with the adsorptivity of carbon nanotube, a composite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide (MWCNT/TiO(2)) has been synthesized. The composite was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR), and diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of this composite material was investigated by application of the composite for the degradation of methyl orange. It was observed that the composite exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with TiO(2). The enhancement in photocatalytic performance of the MWCNT/TiO(2) composite is explained in terms of recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. In addition, MWCNT acts as a dispersing agent preventing TiO(2) from agglomerating activity during the catalytic process, providing a high catalytically active surface area. This work adds to the global discussion of how CNTs can enhance the efficiency of catalysts.

Application of photochemical technologies for treatment of landfill leachate

Because of widely varying practices in solid waste management, an all-inclusive solution to long-term management of landfill leachate is currently not available. There is a major technological need for sustainable, economical options for safe discharge of leachate to the environment. Two potential on-site pretreatment technologies, photochemical iron-mediated aeration (PIMA) and TiO(2) photocatalysis were compared for treatment of landfill leachate at laboratory scale. Results of bench scale testing of real landfill leachate with PIMA and TiO(2) photocatalysis showed up to 86% conversion of refractory COD to complete mineralization, up to 91% removal of lead, up to 71% removal of ammonia without pH adjustment, and up to 90% effective color removal with detention times between 4 and 6h, in field samples. The estimated contact times for 90% removal of COD, ammonia, lead, and color were found to be on the order of 10-200 h for PIMA and 3-37 h for TiO(2) photocatalysis. Testing with actual leachate samples showed 85% TiO(2) photocatalyst recovery efficiency with no loss in performance after multiple (n>4 uses). Pre-filtration was not found to be necessary for effective treatment using either process.

Activated carbon supported TiO2-photocatalysis doped with Fe ions for continuous treatment of dye wastewater in a dynamic reactor

Fe-doped TiO2 coated on activated carbon (Fe-TiO2/AC, FTA) composites were prepared by an improved sol-gel method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and BET surface area analysis. Obtained FTA composites were applied to the continuous treatment of dye wastewater in a dynamic reactor. The effects of Fe ion content, catalyst content, UV-lamp power and flowrate of the continuous treatment of dye wastewater on degradation efficiency were analyzed to determine the optimum operating conditions of dye wastewater degradation. Continuous photocatalytic experiments provided interesting results that VIFTA had a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate compared with TiO2, Fe doped TiO2 (FT) and TiO2 coated on activated carbon (TA). In particular, when using the FTA catalyst with a Fe ion content of 0.33%, the kinetic content (k = 0.0376) of COD removal was more than the sum of both TA (0.0205) and 0.33% FT (0.0166). FTA showed a high photoactivity because of a synergistic effect between Fe ions and AC on TiO2, which is higher than the individual effects of AC or Fe ions on TiO2. Additionally, for the photocatalytic degradation of dye wastewater, the optimum Fe ion content, catalyst content, UV-lamp power and flowrate were 0.33%, 6 g/L, 60 W (two lamps) and 300 mL/hr, respectively. An investigation of catalyst reuse revealed that the 0.33% FTA showed almost no deactivation in photocatalytic degradation of naturally treated wastewater.

Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange by TiO2-coated activated carbon and kinetic study

TiO2-coated activated carbon (AC) grain (TiO2/AC) was prepared through hydrolytic precipitation of TiO2 from Tetrabutylorthotitanate and following heat treatment. The TiO2/AC was characterized by BET, SEM, XRD and optical absorption spectroscopy. The samples were employed as catalysts for methyl orange photocatalytic oxidation degradation in aqueous suspension, used as probe reaction. The kinetics of methyl orange photodegradation was analyzed. The results indicate that BET surface area of TiO2-coated ACs decreased drastically in comparison with the original AC with increasing TiO2 coatings by more than 1 doped cycle. Nano-TiO2 particles were dispersed on the AC with the size of 20-40 nm. Crystalline TiO2 doped onto AC was from anatase to rutile with increase of heat-treatment temperature. The TiO2/AC was shown high photoactivity for the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) dyestuff in aqueous solution under UV irradiation. The kinetics of photocatalytic MO dyestuff degradation was found to follow a pseudo-first-order rate law. It was observed that the presence of the AC enhanced the photoefficiency of the titanium dioxide catalyst. Different amount of TiO2 coatings induced different increases in the apparent first-order rate constant of the process. The kinetic behavior could be described in terms of a modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. The values of the adsorption equilibrium constants for the organic molecules, KC, and for the rate constants, kc, were certainly dependent on TiO2 content. At 47wt% TiO2 coatings with the highest rate constant, the KC and kc was 0.1116l mmol(-1) and 0.1872 mmol l(-1) min(-1), respectively. The mechanism of methyl orange degradation was discussed in terms of the titanium dioxide photosensitization by the AC.