Photocatalytic treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater using new multiwall-carbon nanotubes/TiO{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2} nanocomposites

Journal Article · Sun Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2015 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2014.12.006· OSTI ID:22483276

Czech, Bożena ^[1]; Buda, Waldemar ^[2]

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1. Department of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin (Poland)
2. Department of Adsorption, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin (Poland)

For the photocatalytic removal of bisphenol A (BPA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) from water solution a new multiwall-carbon nanotubes and TiO{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2} nanocomposites (MWCNT–TiO{sub 2}–SiO{sub 2}) were applied. Nanocomposites with the addition of 0.15–17.8 wt% MWCNT show high potential for the removal of both pollutants. The starting concentration of each contaminant was halved during 20 min of UVA irradiation. The decomposition process of CBZ over investigated nanocomposites proceeded differently than it was observed for the classical photocatalyst P25. The kinetics of the removal followed as a pseudo-first order regime with the k{sub 1} in range 0.0827–0.1751 min{sup −1} for BPA and 0.0131–0.0743 min{sup −1} for CBZ. Toxicity to Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna was significantly reduced indicating formation of non-toxic products of photooxidation of tested contaminants. - Highlights: • MWCNT enhanced TiO{sub 2} activity in UVA and the removal of BPA and CBZ. • At least 50% PPCPs removal during 30 min of photocatalytic treatment was observed. • MWCNT changed the mechanism of CBZ decomposition but not BPA. • Decomposition products of both BPA and CBZ possessed low toxicity. • Photocatalysis may be recommended for the initial treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.

• OSTI ID: 22483276
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Vol. 137; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABUNDANCE
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CARBON NANOTUBES
CONCENTRATION RATIO
DAPHNIA
DECOMPOSITION
DRUGS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
IRRADIATION
NANOCOMPOSITES
PHOSPHORUS 25
PHOTOCATALYSIS
POLLUTANTS
SILICA
SILICON OXIDES
TITANIUM OXIDES
TOXICITY
WASTE WATER