Abstract:
Abatement of contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) in water sources
has been widely studied employing TiO2 based heterogeneous
photocatalysis. However, low quantum energy yield among other
limitations of titania has led to its modification with other
semiconductor materials for improved photocatalytic activity. In this
work, a 0.05 wt.% CuWO4 over TiO2 was prepared as a powder composite.
Each component part synthesized via the sol-gel method for TiO2, and
CuWO4 by co-precipitation assisted hydrothermal method from precursor
salts, underwent gentle mechanical agitation. Homogenization of the
nanopowder precursors was performed by zirconia ball milling for 2 h.
The final material was obtained after annealing at 500 degrees C for 3.5
h. Structural and morphological characterization of the synthesized
material has been achieved employing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier
transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET)
N-2 adsorption-desorption analysis, Scanning electron microscopy-coupled
Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Transmission electron
microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-Vis
diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) for optical
characterization. The 0.05 wt.% CuWO4-TiO2 catalyst was investigated
for its photocatalytic activity over carbamazepine (CBZ), achieving a
degradation of almost 100% after 2 h irradiation. A comparison with
pure TiO2 prepared under those same conditions was made. The effect of
pH, chemical scavengers, H2O2 as well as contaminant ion effects
(anions, cations), and humic acid (HA) was investigated, and their
related influences on the photocatalyst efficiency towards CBZ
degradation highlighted accordingly.
Authors:
Anucha, Chukwuka Bethel
Altin, Ilknur
Bacaksiz, Emin and
Kucukomeroglu, Tayfur
Belay, Masho Hilawie
Stathopoulos,
Vassilis N.
