Photocatalytic Degradation of Thiacloprid Using Tri-Doped TiO2 Photocatalysts: A Preliminary Comparative Study

Antonietta Mancuso,Wanda Navarra,Stefania Pragliola,Olga Sacco,Vincenzo Venditto,Vincenzo Vaiano

doi:10.3390/catal11080927

Antonietta Mancuso, Wanda Navarra + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11080927

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Abstract

Different tri-doped TiO2 photocatalysts (Fe-N-P/TiO2, Fe-N-S/TiO2, Fe-Pr-N/TiO2, Pr-N-S/TiO2, and P-N-S/TiO2) were successfully prepared and tested in the photocatalytic removal of thiacloprid (THI) under UV-A, visible, and direct solar light irradiation. The physical-chemical properties of the prepared catalysts were analyzed by different characterization techniques, revealing that dopants are effectively incorporated into the anatase TiO2 lattice, resulting in a decrease of the energy band gap. The reduction of photoluminescence intensity indicates a lower combination rate and longer lifespan of photogenerated carriers of all doped samples in comparison with the un-doped TiO2. The doped photocatalysts not only significantly promote the photodegradation under UV-A light irradiation but also extend the optical response of TiO2 to visible light region, and consequently improve the visible light degradation of THI. Fe-N-P tri-doped TiO2 sample exhibits the highest THI photodegradation degree (64% under UV-A light, 29% under visible light and 73% under solar light).

Highlights

IntroductionAcademic Editors: Stéphanie Lambert and Julien Mahy
The effect of different doping elements was assessed towards the photocatalytic degradation of thiacloprid under UV-A, visible, and solar light irradiation
XRD results showed the characteristic peaks of TiO2 in anatase phase, while no signals of dopant species oxide can be detected in all the tri-doped TiO2 samples

Summary

Introduction

Academic Editors: Stéphanie Lambert and Julien Mahy. The most important commercial insecticides available on the market are neonicotinoids, thanks to their high insecticidal activity, adequate water solubility, and high stability [1]. Widespread use of neonicotinoids has led to an almost ubiquitous environmental presence of these pollutants, including in surface water and groundwater [3]. The neonicotinoid insecticides, both at high and low concentrations (e.g., LC50 of 5 ng/bee) [4], bind to nervous systems causing receptor blockage, paralysis, and death. Thiacloprid (THI) is an insecticide, belonging to the second-generation neonicotinoid pesticides, introduced by

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