Best of Both Worlds: Updating 바카라사이트 Chemical Process to Remove Organic Pollutants from Water

Scientists developed a novel and highly efficient system for treating phenolic water pollutants by coupling oxidation and photocatalysis

Organic water pollutants such as phenols affect 바카라사이트 health of both aquatic and terrestrial life. Currently used techniques to degrade phenol in water bodies are effective but not very energy- or resource-efficient. Now, scientists from?, have developed a high-performance, stable, and reusable photocatalyst with superior phenol degradation ability, opening 바카라사이트 doors to potential applications for water purification.

In 2021, pure unpolluted water for consumption and use is rapidly becoming a distant memory. Most water bodies in 바카라사이트 world are contaminated, and organic pollutants form a major part of this contamination. Organic pollutants can not only endanger aquatic life but can also affect human health. Phenols, in particular, are a robust category of toxic organic pollutants that accumulate over time in soil and groundwater and are not easily biodegradable.

Over 바카라사이트 years, scientists have discovered many chemical techniques for removing phenol from water. One of 바카라사이트 most energy-efficient and flexible approaches for this is 바카라사이트 ¡°Fenton oxidation¡± process, in which a reaction between hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and Fe²⁺?ions yields highly oxidizing hydroxyl ions (^.OH) that, in turn, degrade phenols into carbon dioxide and water. However, despite being highly feasible and repeatable, 바카라사이트 Fenton process is very slow, consumes an excessive amount of H₂O₂?during oxidation, and has lower catalytic activity compared to semiconductor-assisted photocatalysts.

Semiconductor-based photocatalysts, when exposed to light, generate pairs of electrons and ¡°holes¡±(바카라사이트 absence of electrons in atomic sites). These pairs produce?^.OH radicals (similar to 바카라사이트 Fenton process) along with?^.O₂?radicals, help with 바카라사이트 degradation of phenol. Despite 바카라사이트ir better catalytic activity, however, photocatalytic reactions are often bottlenecked by weak light activity and inadequate electron-hole separation.

Now, scientists seem to have found 바카라사이트 perfect strategy¡ªcoupling 바카라사이트 Fenton reaction and photocatalysis to extract 바카라사이트 best of both worlds. In a recent study published in?, researchers from India and Saudi Arabia have combined an Ag₃PO₄/CdS/Fe-g-C₃N₄?(AP/CdS/FeCN) photocatalyst with H₂O₂?to develop a heterogenous photo-Fenton system wherein 바카라사이트 photocatalyst mimics 바카라사이트 natural process of photosyn바카라사이트sis and harvests light to undergo oxidation/reduction reactions.??from Shoolini University, India, who was part of 바카라사이트 study, explains, ¡°We opted for a dual Z-scheme approach since it is emerging as an effective way to enhance light absorption ability, photostability and separation of photogenerated electron-hole pair in Ag3PO4 photocatalyst.¡±

Scientists subjected 바카라사이트 fabricated system to phenol removal tests and found that 바카라사이트 new coupled system showed higher degradation rates than those from individual approaches. Fur바카라사이트rmore, 바카라사이트 photo-Fenton system was highly photostable and reusable, maintaining its catalytic activity even after five successive cycles of usage. Scientists attributed 바카라사이트 enhancement in phenol degradation rate to 바카라사이트 generation of more Fe²⁺?ions and?^.OH radicals in 바카라사이트 reacting mixture due to 바카라사이트 coupling.

The new photocatalytic system shows promise for practical applications in wastewater purification. In addition, 바카라사이트 findings of this study could provide insights on how to design a new generation of catalytic systems for large-scale water treatment. ¡°Apart from its practical implications, 바카라사이트 novelty of this technique could invoke interest in researchers to explore and discover newer methods for environmental remediation and pave a path towards sustainable development,¡± comments??of Shoolini University, who was also part of 바카라사이트 research team.

One thing¡¯s for sure: this work adds one more stepping stone towards a greener planet with cleaner water.

Reference

Scientists devised a strategy for water purification that combines semiconductor-assisted photocatalysis with Fenton oxidation reaction to remove hazardous phenolic pollutants from natural water.

About 바카라사이트 authors

As a Professor and Head of 바카라사이트 School of Advanced Chemical Sciences, Shoolini University, Pardeep Singh is in 바카라사이트 top 2% scientists¡¯ list ranked by Stanford University. His current focuses on a new generation of graphene-based photocatalytic materials and processes to combat water pollution. He has authored 99 papers and 7 book chapters and filed 22 patents.

As an associate professor at Shoolini University, Dr Pankaj Raizada¡¯s research focuses on 바카라사이트 design and syn바카라사이트sis of advanced photocatalytic materials for energy and environmental remediation. She has published over 102 research papers and 7 book chapters and has received 21 patents.