Effects of inorganic ions on the photocatalytic degradation of carbamazepine

Yongming Luo,Qian Guo,Dedong He,Xiaoya Gao,Guangbei Tang,Wen Peng

doi:10.2166/wrd.2019.001

Abstract

Abstract Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a typical class of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and is a serious threat to the environment and human health. Photocatalytic degradation is an efficient technology to remove CBZ. However, the present work focused mainly on the improvement of photocatalytic degradation performance. The information about the effects of inorganic ions on the photocatalytic degradation activity of environmental pollutants is still scarce. This study systematically investigated the effects of inorganic ions on the photocatalytic degradation of CBZ in view of the practical applications. The addition of inorganic anions showed a negative effect on photocatalytic degradation of CBZ with the order of inhibition effects of HCO3− &gt; Cl− &gt; NO3−. This was due to the quenching effects of hydroxyl radicals or holes, which decreased the photocatalytic degradation of CBZ. The presence of Al3+ could adsorb on the surface of a photocatalyst to shield the active site, resulting in the decreased CBZ degradation, while coexistence of Ca2+ significantly promoted the photocatalytic degradation of CBZ owing to the enhanced CBZ adsorption. Mg2+ showed concentration and time-dependent effects (suppression or promotion) on the photocatalytic degradation of CBZ.

Highlights

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), as emerging contaminants, are the subject of growing concern
There is a need to study inorganic ions to understand their influence on the degradation efficiency of CBZ
This will be beneficial to help govern the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in real wastewater treatment, so as to effectively solve the problem of organic pollutants

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), as emerging contaminants, are the subject of growing concern. There are a variety of inorganic ions in water, including bicarbonate ions, nitrate ions, chloride ions, magnesium ions, calcium ions, and aluminum ions (Kanigaridou et al ; Ramasamy et al ) The presence of these ions can significantly affect photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants (Bhatkhande et al ). There is a need to study inorganic ions to understand their influence on the degradation efficiency of CBZ. This will be beneficial to help govern the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in real wastewater treatment, so as to effectively solve the problem of organic pollutants. In this study, the effects of inorganic ions on the photocatalytic degradation of CBZ over the visible-lightdriven BiOCl photocatalyst were systematically explored. The underlying mechanism was discussed, based on the experimental data

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Methods

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS