Abstract
The photocatalytic efficiency of an innovative UV-light catalyst consisting of a mesoporous TiO2 coating on glass fibers was investigated for the degradation of pharmaceuticals (PhACs) in wastewater effluents. Photocatalytic activity of the synthesized material was tested, for the first time, on a secondary wastewater effluent spiked with nine PhACs and the results were compared with the photolysis used as a benchmark treatment. Replicate experiments were performed in a flow reactor equipped with a UV radiation source emitting at 254 nm. Interestingly, the novel photocatalyst led to the increase of the degradation of carbamazepine and trimethoprim (about 2.2 times faster than the photolysis). Several transformation products (TPs) resulting from both the spiked PhACs and the compounds naturally occurring in the secondary wastewater effluent were identified through UPLC-QTOF/MS/MS. Some of them, produced mainly from carbamazepine and trimethoprim, were still present at the end of the photolytic treatment, while they were completely or partially removed by the photocatalytic treatment.
Highlights
The presence of compounds of emerging concern (CECs) such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products, and surfactants in secondary wastewater effluents poses a threat to the receiving water bodies and, to wildlife and human health
The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of photocatalysis employing a novel nanostructured and mesoporous TiO2 coating on glass fiber mats for the removal of nine PhACs spiked in a real secondary wastewater effluent, beside the removal of the naturally occurring CECs, as an integrated technology for water remediation
A novel photocatalytic system consisting of mesoporous titanium dioxide supported on glass fibers as the catalyst substrate in a UV reactor arrangement has been developed to remove the pharmaceutical contaminants
Summary
The presence of compounds of emerging concern (CECs) such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, personal care products, and surfactants in secondary wastewater effluents poses a threat to the receiving water bodies and, to wildlife and human health. This risk has led to the publication of guidelines by the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in which chemical and microbiological parameters of the wastewaters are considered [1]. Transportation, handling, and chemical hazards are the main disadvantages of the chlorination process, whereas wastewater turbidity and adverse photoreactivation limit the use of UV treatment technology. In this regard, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) represent a more efficient alternative due to their versatility toward degrading organic and inorganic contaminants in water and on solid phases [5,10,11,12,13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
