(cest2017_00947) Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants on Copper-Nitrogen Modified Titania

摘要

Current economic growth is based on intensiveindustrial activity which is inevitably producing highquantities of wastes that also affect the water reservoirs. Inorder to reduce the consequences of this contamination,scientific efforts are focused on advanced waterpurification processes, including photocatalytic treatmentbased on titanium dioxide nanostructures. Herein, thedevelopment of innovative photocatalysts consisting oftitania modified by both copper and nitrogen (N-Cu/TiO_2)was investigated. These mixed (anion-cation) modifiedTiO_2 nanostructures prepared using a combustion sol-gelsynthesis, were first characterized with XRD, EDX,UV/vis, Raman, and FTIR techniques. The analysisconfirmed that N-Cu/TiO_2 is well crystalized in theanatase phase, while the non-detection of coppercompounds in XRD spectra is attributed to the existence ofwell dispersed copper oxide nanoparticles onto the surfaceof the catalyst. The evaluation of the photocatalyticproperties was performed under UV light irradiation usingtwo emerging contaminants, caffeine and salicylic acid,frequently detected in municipal wastewaters. Based on theexperimental results, copper loading influences thephotocatalytic process and enhances the final degradationefficienciy, compared to the reference material (N/TiO_2).An optimum copper loading value was determined and theresults are compatible with a photocatalytic mechanismimplying more efficient light absorption and/or reducedrecombination of the photogenerated carriers.