The enhanced oxidative potential of sludge carbon/TiO2 nano composites (SNCs), applied as heterogeneous catalysts in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), was studied. Fabrification of efficient SNCs using different methods and successful evaluation of their catalytic oxidative activity is reported for the first time. Surface modification processes of hydrothermal deposition, chemical treatment and sol-gel solution resulted in improved catalytic activity and good surface chemistry of the SNCs. The solids obtained after chemical treatment and hydrothermal deposition processes exhibit excellent crystallinity and photocatalytic activity. The highest photocatalytic rate was obtained for the material prepared using hydrothermal deposition technique, compared to other nanocomposites. Further, improved removal of bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous phase by means of catalytic ozonation and catalytic wet air oxidation processes is achieved over the solid synthesized using chemical treatment method. The present results demonstrate that the addition of TiO2 on the surface of sludge carbon (SC) increases catalytic oxidative activity of SNCs. The latter produced from harmful sludge materials can be therefore used as cost-effective and efficient sludge derived catalysts for the removal of hazardous pollutants.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5730586
In this study, testing of TiO2 polymorphs (anatase, rutile, brookite) and their mixtures (anatase/rutile, anatase/TiO2-B) in heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation process was conducted at ambient conditions in a batch slurry reactor. The efficiency of bare TiO2catalysts was evaluated based on the degree of bisphenol A (BPA) removal, which is a well-known endocrine disrupting compound (EDC). The obtained results indisputably show that BPA removal is strongly affected by catalyst morphology, crystallite size, structure and specific surface area. Detailed interpretation of catalyst properties combined with BPA removal rates leads to the conclusion that photocatalytic oxidation is the most prominent either by using pure anatase particles or high surface area anatase/TiO2-B nanocomposite. However, the highest extent of mineralization was observed in the presence of high specific surface area nanotubular anatase/TiO2-B nanocomposite. Interestingly, when anatase and rutile particles were physically mixed, an additional beneficial effect on BPA degradation was observed. Interpretation of the obtained results shows that a synergistic effect between the respective phases takes place, and consequently enhances the overall activity. This phenomenon was explained by the proposed mechanism of overall hydroxyl radicals concentration increment due to transfer of OH formed on the surface of anatase particles (via H2O oxidation with photogenerated holes in the valence band) to rutile particles.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5573914
The influence of structural, morphological and surface properties on photocatalytic activity of pristine and modified titanate nanotubes was carefully described and discussed in the following study. Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) were prepared via alkaline hydrothermal synthesis route followed by acid washing at ambient conditions. The resulting high specific surface area nanotubular solids were further modified by two distinguished post-treatments: (i) heat-treatment in the temperature range from 300 to 700 °C, and (ii) peroxide-treatment at room temperature. Bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known endocrine disrupting compound (EDC), was selected as a testing molecule to evaluate the photodegradation potency of the modified TNTs. The resulting BPA and TOC removals confirmed that crystallinity and BET surface area of examined heat-treated solids play a crucial role in governing the photooxidation reaction. Regarding the peroxide-treated TNTs, a nearly three-fold improvement in BPA removal was attained in comparison to the pristine TNTs, which can be attributed to the redox reaction of surface titanium(IV) peroxo groups. However, the exposure of anatase-based samples to the H2O2 medium resulted in deteriorated photocatalytic oxidation of the model compound, due to recovery of surface Ti3+ defect sites, leading to increased e−–h+ recombination and decreased oxygen adsorption. In addition, a carbon-based elemental analysis of the heat-treated TNTs (TNT_500) and standard TiO2 P25 stressed the potential of tailor-made crystalline TNTs to be applied as photocatalysts for long-term removal of aqueous organics, due to low accumulation of carbonaceous deposits during the photodegradation runs.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5480986
Catalytic decarboxylation is a novel and promising pathway for continuous and efficient conversion of organic wastewaters. Stable conversion of acetic acid to CH4 and CO2 mixtures (T ≥ 225 °C, Sp ) 80 %, 70 h TOS) was demonstrated. Approaches for overcoming catalyst deactivation during production of H2-rich gas from formic acid are outlined.
COBISS.SI-ID: 5714970
This study explores CeZrO2 deposited over commercial β-SiC, and a highly ordered 3D β-SiC synthesised in the laboratory via electrophoretic deposition, as well as γ-Al2O3 in order to prepare three types of dual support for NiCo bimetallic catalyst in CH4–CO2 dry reforming (DR). CeZrO2 was deposited over γ-Al2O3 and β-SiC by dry impregnation (DI), wet impregnation (WI) and 2-step deposition precipitation (DP). XRD analysis indicated that the constituents of the dual supports were retained after calcination, as well as before and after the DR reaction. CeZrO2 remained as a mixed oxide solid solution, whilst alumina formed spinel structures with Ni and Co before the catalysts were reduced in H2 during the pretreatment step prior to the activity tests. During 550 h stability tests, WI, 2-step SICAT/CeZrO2 and 2-step γ-Al2O3/CeZrO2 solids were identified as the most promising catalysts, maintaining high DR activities without deactivation. Notably, 2-step SiC(SICAT) and 2-step γ-Al2O3/CeZrO2 samples recorded the highest yield (H2 = 77%, CO = 90%; H2 = 71%, CO = 81%), with a coke content of 7.7 and 0.6 wt.%, respectively. Carbon deposition for the former is high; contrarily, for WI SiC(SICAT) solid, it accumulated a lower amount of 2.6 wt.%. No agglomeration of CeZrO2 and NiCo phases was observed, evidencing excellent robustness and thermal resistance of these dual supports.
COBISS.SI-ID: 37574917