Abstract
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) including heterogeneous photocatalysis has proven as one of the best technique for waste-water treatment. Photocatalytic process using semiconductor like TiO2 based heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising method for the treatment of toxic pollutants. In the present study, visible-light photoactive cobalt and nitrogen co-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via wet impregnation method. The photocatalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectra, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), UV-vis spectrophotometer and X-ray photoelectron spectrophotometer (XPS). The photocatalytic activitiy of prepared (N, Co)-codoped TiO2 on the mineralization of Bisphenol-A (BPA) under visible light irradiation was studied and the results were compared to commercial TiO2 (Degussa P25). The results demonstrated that 1.5% Co and 0.5% N – codoped TiO2 samples revealed higher activity than commercial TiO2. Total organic carbon (TOC) removal was observed to be 97%, which indicate the complete mineralization of BPA. GC-MS analysis was carried to find out the possible intermediates formed and reaction pathway.
Highlights
Bisphenol-A [2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane] or BPA is generally utilized as a beginning material for epoxy and polycarbonate plastics
The main aim of these activities includes the (i) combination of energy levels into the band gap of TiO2, (ii) changing the life time of photogenerated charge carriers, (iii) swap of the Ti4+ with cation of the identical size, and (iv) shifting the VB and/or the CB in order to enable the process of photo-excitation at lesser energies, achievement of which depends on the method of preparation[5,6,7]
Dopants like cobalt and nitrogen were observed to disturb the physical properties of the nano particles, producing alterations in crystal structure, energy band gap as well as elemental composition
Summary
Bisphenol-A [2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane] or BPA is generally utilized as a beginning material for epoxy and polycarbonate plastics. A number of physical, chemical, and biological techniques have been developed over the last two decades to remove toxicity from pharmaceutical wastewater but these treatment methods have their disadvantages These methods are not much efficient to bring down the pollution parameters to the satisfactory level. TiO2 photocatalysis in aqueous medium yields a variety of intermediates It is chemically and photochemically stable, but is only excited by ultraviolet light having wavelength (λ) less than 390 nm, the light utilization efficiency to solar irradiation and a fluorescent lamp is quite low. For the non-metal-doped titania photocatalysts, the mixing of N, S or C (2p) O (2p) states shifts the VB edge upwards, resulting in a decrease of the band gap of the N-doped TiO2 and thereby the photocatalyst can be energetic under visible light irradiation. Vanadium[17,19], copper[20,21] and cobalt[22] doping on TiO2 offers a possible promising strategy to enhance the characteristics of photocatalytic species and activity under visible light
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