Abstract
UV-activated Zr-doped composites were successfully produced through the impregnation of Zr on the crystal lattice of different clay materials by a one-step route. Fixing the amount of Zr available for dopage (4%), the influence of different supports, submitted to different chemical treatments, on the photocatalytic activity of the resulting Zr-doped pillared clay materials (PILC) was assessed. Both chemical characterization and structural characterization suggest that the immobilization of Zr on montmorillonite and PILC structures occurred through isomorphic substitution between Si and Zr in the tetrahedral sheet of the clay material. This structural change was demonstrated by significant modifications on Si-OH stretching vibrations (1016 cm−1, 1100 cm−1 and 1150 cm−1), and resulted in improved textural properties, with an increase in surface area from 8 m2/g (natural montmorillonite) to 107 m2/g after the pillaring process, and to 118 m2/g after the pillaring and Zr-doping processes ((Zr)Al-Cu-PILC). These materials were tested in the UV-photodegradation of agro-industrial wastewater (AIW), characterized by high concentrations of recalcitrant contaminants. After Zr-dopage on AlCu-PILC heterogeneous catalyst, the total organic carbon (TOC) removals of 8.9% and 10.4% were obtained through adsorption and 77% and 86% by photocatalytic oxidation, at pH 4 and 7, respectively. These results suggest a synergetic effect deriving from the combination of Zr and Cu on the photocatalytic degradation process.
Highlights
Agro-industrial activities are one of the main sources of wastewater pollution and its impact on the environment has received special attention in recent years [1,2]
The results show that the total organic carbon (TOC) removal obtained using (Zr)AlCu-pillared clay materials (PILC) corresponds to 86%, 66%
Different catalysts submitted to different chemical treatments and/or the Zr on montmorillonite lattice (Zr-MT) and (Zr)-dopage process, were applied in the H2 O2 -assisted treatment of recalcitrant winery wastewater in order to evaluate the influence of the surface chemical properties of the doped supports on their adsorption and catalytic properties
Summary
Agro-industrial activities are one of the main sources of wastewater pollution and its impact on the environment has received special attention in recent years [1,2]. Winery wastewater (WW) is characterized by high load of recalcitrant organic compounds [1,3], and its unregulated discharge represents a great threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health [4]. In this regard, the development of effective and low cost methods for the treatment of WW is imperative. Biological degradation is the most common process applied, the microbial activity can be inhibited by the recalcitrant character and toxicity of the organic contaminants [9]. To overcome these problems, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been proposed as effective, fast and non-expensive
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