N-modified TiO2 photocatalytic activity towards diphenhydramine degradation and Escherichia coli inactivation in aqueous solutions

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Ricardo A.R. Monteiro (Author) FEUP; Sandra M. Miranda (Author) Other; Vítor J. P. Vilar (Author) FEUP; Luisa M. Pastrana-Martínez (Author) FEUP; Pedro B. Tavares (Author) Other; Rui A. R. Boaventura (Author) FEUP; Joaquim L. Faria (Author) FEUP; Eugénia Pinto (Author) FFUP; Adrián M. T. Silva (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental

Vol. 162

Pages: 66-74

ISSN: 0926-3373

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 55 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 55 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Chemical engineering

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Technology > Environmental technology

Associated Projects

LSRE-LCM - Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reação - Laboratório de Catálise e Materiais

LA 20 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - LA 20 - 2013-2014

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-R2N

DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2014.06.017

Abstract (EN): Nitrogen modified TiO2 samples were prepared by grinding the benchmark TiO2 photocatalyst (P25, Evonik Degussa Corporation) with different amounts of urea and applying calcination temperatures between 340 and 420 degrees C. Several characterization techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N-2 porosimetry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and diffuse reflectance UV vis spectroscopy (UV-DRS), were used to obtain information about the morphology, crystalline phases of TiO2 and chemical binding of nitrogen. Nitrogen modification did not affect the crystalline phase of TiO2 as far as XRD analysis concerns; on the other hand the modified materials developed an absorption in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The material with a urea:TiO2 weight ratio of 1:2, calcined at 380 degrees C, exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity under visible light illumination (lambda > 430 nm), towards degradation of diphenhydramine, an emerging water pollutant of pharmaceutical origin. The measured band gap energy of the material was 2.99 eV, which is in-line with observed optical absorption properties. In addition, this photocatalyst was also the most efficient for complete inactivation of Escherichia coli in aqueous solution when ultraviolet radiation (lambda = 365 nm) was used. From the XPS analysis on the chemical states of this photocatalyst it is concluded that nitrogen is interstitial to the TiO2 structure.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9