Water Pollution Issues Research Articles

Water Challenges in South Asian Countries: A Focused Review on Emerging Nanomaterials and Technological Processes in Wastewater Treatment

South Asia, the world’s most populated region, is facing many environmental and healthcare challenges due to poor freshwater management/wastewater treatment. Most South Asian (SA) countries, such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, are suffering from water pollution issues generated due to domestic and industrial effluents containing heavy/toxic ions, textile dyes, pharmaceuticals, bacteria/viruses inorganic/organic pollutants, etc. To overcome these challenges, extensive research is being carried out with an emphasis on technological development to maintain water sustainability. The present review discusses water pollution as well as various challenges in SA countries along with solutions through scientific research carried out by developing nanomaterials and technological wastewater treatment processes, i.e., photocatalytic/adsorptive removal, disinfection, tracing/sensing, etc. Particularly, syntheses of TiO2 nanoparticles and graphene oxide (GO)-based nanomaterials which were found to be most extensively investigated in the SA region have been discussed with emphasis on their multifunctional applications using various water treatment processes, mechanisms, and synergetic effects. Eventually, various challenging issues and solution opportunities are discussed for future development to maintain water sustainability in SA countries.

The Synthesis of Titania Nanoparticles (TiO2) and its Methylene Blue Dye removal efficiency through Photocatalysis based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

<p>Water pollution has been acknowledged as an issue of concern due to recalcitrant pollutants like textile dyes. Therefore, the eco-friendly synthesis of nano-particles (NPs) through green chemistry approach from sources and materials of organic origin has not only enhanced the properties of substance at nanoscale but has also reduced the toxicological impacts on human health and the environment. In this study a successful attempt was made to synthesize TiO2 NPs by Mangifera indica leaves extract as organic source. The structural morphology was determined by carrying out FTIR, SEM, EDX and XRD techniques. The removal of Methylene Blue (MB) dye was assessed by the application of the photocatalysis technique. The experiments were designed using the RSM (CCD) approach for selected parameters such as pH, TiO2 NPs, Dye concentration and Time. The maximal dye removal efficiency of 98% was achieved at optimum conditions of 4.7 pH, 0.04g of nano photocatalyst in 250ml of dye solution having 8ppm concentration, allowed to react for 45 min. The regression coefficient value of 79.37% was determined by ANOVA for MB dye. The results clearly indicate that the application of green nanoparticles for the removal of MB dye is a feasible option to overcome with the ever-increasing issue of water pollution and environmental degradation.</p>

Review on disposal, recycling and management of waste polyurethane foams: A way ahead.

With the burning issue of air, land and water pollution, the premonition of looking forward towards a future devoid of any kind of oil and gas reserves has caused a paradigm shift towards recycling, recovery of any synthetic polymer and also to dispose them off environmentally. Among them are plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate and poly vinyl chloride. Polyurethane (PU) is also under the scanner to dispose of or recycle it environmentally and sustainably. PU is at present the sixth most utilized polymer all over the world with a production of nearly 18 million tonnes per annum, which roughly estimates a daily production of PU products of greater than a million of cubic metres. Its thermostable nature is one of the major reasons for its higher preference over other polymers. This review article discusses the current disposal and technologies available to recycle waste PU foams and also sheds some light on some additional work being done in the field to upgrade the existing technology. Interestingly, some methods mentioned here are probably undergoing scale-up trials runs by now. Currently, the most researched and studied ones are mechanical recycling and glycolysis. But microbial and enzymatic disposal methods can be turned into full-scale industrial recycling processes in the near future. Additionally, we can see an archetypal shift from traditional oil-based sources to the agrarian sources.

A multifunctional adsorbent based on 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid/dopamine-modified magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for the removal of heavy-metal ions

Overexploitation of nature by humans has led to an increasingly serious issue of heavy-metal water pollution. To reduce the threat of water pollution to humans and the environment, it is imperative to develop or improve the water treatment technology for heavy-metal-containing wastewater. Functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs) have been widely used as effective adsorbents for the removal of heavy-metal ions from water owing to their high efficiency, low cost, selective adsorption ability, and recyclability. In this study, Fe3O4@DA-DMSA magnetic nanoparticles (FDDMs) were prepared by the functionalization of Fe3O4 MNPs with environmentally friendly dopamine (DA) and a heavy-metal detoxifying agent such as 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) for the efficient and rapid adsorption of Pb2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+, with maximum adsorption capacities of 187.62, 63.01, and 49.46 mg/g, respectively. FDDMs exhibited the best ability to remove Pb2+ with a maximum adsorption capacity than that of the most reported Fe3O4 MNP-related adsorbents. In actual wastewater and multi-component simulated water samples contaminated with Pb2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+, the as-prepared adsorbent maintained a good removal ability for Pb2+ with low influence by ionic strength and interfering ions, as well as exhibited an excellent selectivity. According to the results of batch experiments and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the adsorbent before and after adsorption, the adsorption mechanism of the adsorbent for the removal of heavy-metal ions mainly involves coordination and ion exchange. In addition, the adsorbent exhibited a good regeneration performance. Therefore, FDDMs can be considered as a promising adsorbent for the treatment of heavy-metal wastewater.

Enhanced adsorption and photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction and sterilization of defective MoS2/PVP.

The exploration of novel nanomaterials to resolve the issues of water pollution with the aid of photocatalytic technology has always been a research hotspot. MoS2 is acknowledged to be one of the promising photocatalysts for its interesting layered structure, suitable band gap, and good chemical stability. However, the fast recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes within the MoS2 impedes its extensive application. Here, hydrophilic polymer (polyvinyl pyrrolidone, PVP) and sulfur vacancy (Vs) are simultaneously introduced into the MoS2 nanosheets to achieve high-efficient photocatalytic hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) removal and antibacterial performance. The incorporation of PVP greatly enhances the adsorption capacity of MoS2, and creating Vs essentially strengthens the photogenerated carrier separation of MoS2. As a result, the Cr(VI) removal efficiency of MoS2-PVP with an appropriate Vs concentration is up to 99.5% for 3h. Meanwhile, MoS2-PVP with a relatively higher Vs concentration displays a superior Escherichia coli (E. coli) removal efficiency of 91.8% within 30min with the initial E. coli concentration of∼1.0×107 CFU/mL. This study extends photocatalysts to a higher level in designing advanced materials for environmental remediation and establishes a feasible platform for emphasizing the versatility of defect engineering in regulating catalytic activity.

The application of machine learning in nanoparticle treated water: A review

Pollution from industrial effluents and domestic waste are two of the most common sources of environmental pollutants. Due to the rising population and manufacturing industries, large amounts of pollutants were produced daily. Therefore, enhancements in wastewater treatment to render treated wastewater and provide effective solutions are essential to return clean and safe water to be reused in the industrial, agricultural, and domestic sectors. Nanotechnology has been proven as an alternative approach to overcoming the existing water pollution issue. Nanoparticles exhibit high aspect ratios, large pore volumes, electrostatic properties, and high specific surfaces, which explains their efficiency in removing pollutants such as dyes, pesticides, heavy metals, oxygen-demanding wastes, and synthetic organic chemicals. Machine learning (ML) is a powerful tool to conduct the model and prediction of the adverse biological and environmental effects of nanoparticles in wastewater treatment. In this review, the application of ML in nanoparticle-treated water on different pollutants has been studied and it was discovered that the removal of the pollutants could be predicted through the mathematical approach which included ML. Further comparison of ML method can be carried out to assess the prediction performance of ML methods on pollutants removal. Moreover, future studies regarding the nanotoxicity, synthesis process, and reusability of nanoparticles are also necessary to take into consideration to safeguard the environment.

“Exploring the Potential for Collector-Drainage Water Reuse in Fodder Crop Farming: A Case Study in Uzbekistan’s Mizachul Steppe”

The recycling of collector-drainage water (CDW) with high mineral content increases the salt levels in inland water bodies, which can limit the usability of the water downstream. To improve the agricultural irrigation system and livestock production in Central Asia, comprehensive quantitative and qualitative research is needed to analyze the inter-annual and multiyear CDW generation patterns. A Ph.D. research study has been designed to investigate the amount, quality, and ionic composition of CDW and its reuse potential for maize crops in the Mirzachul steppe of Uzbekistan. Reusing drainage water is an effective approach to supplementing water resources and reducing drainage disposal problems by reducing the volume of water involved. Reusing drainage water for irrigation can also mitigate water pollution issues. Different reuse methods include conventional agriculture, salt-tolerant crop cultivation, wildlife habitats and wetlands, and initial reclamation of salt-affected lands. In recent years, salinity levels in all major CDWs have shown a continuous increase. The present study is based on scientific research that involved proper fieldwork monitoring and observation while irrigating maize crops with a mixture of salt water and fresh water.

New Approach to Modelling the Impact of Heavy Metals on the European Union's Water Resources.

The present research aims to address the highly topical issue of heavy metal water pollution from an integrated European perspective, i.e., to quantify through modelling a general model of water pollution reduction in the EU. The objectives of the study are mainly aimed at identifying effective solutions to reduce heavy metal water pollution and providing supranational decision-makers with public policy directions in the field. The research methods consist of the foundation of working hypotheses based on the study of the literature, the consolidation of official statistical databases in the field, econometric modelling and the conceptualisation of a general model and its testing and validation by statistical methods. The results of the analysis consist of the following marginal contributions: the identification of a general model for combating heavy metal pollution; the calculation of the degree of contribution of regional policies to the general model; and the identification of effective solutions to improve the combating of heavy metal water pollution in Europe. The main conclusion of the analysis shows that significant progress has been achieved at the EU level in the field of combating heavy metal water pollution. However, the level of disparity and poor policy coordination are real vulnerabilities for the EU.

Sodium Alginate/β-Cyclodextrin Reinforced Carbon Nanotubes Hydrogel as Alternative Adsorbent for Nickel(II) Metal Ion Removal.

Water pollution issues, particularly those caused by heavy metal ions, have been significantly growing. This paper combined biopolymers such as sodium alginate (SA) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to improve adsorption performance with the help of calcium ion as the cross-linked agent. Moreover, the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into the hybrid hydrogel matrix was examined. The adsorption of nickel(II) was thoroughly compared between pristine sodium alginate/β-cyclodextrin (SA-β-CD) and sodium alginate/β-cyclodextrin immobilized carbon nanotubes (SA-β-CD/CNTs) hydrogel. Both hydrogels were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectral analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The results showed SA-β-CD/CNTs hydrogel exhibits excellent thermal stability, high specific surface area and large porosity compared with SA-β-CD hydrogel. Batch experiments were performed to study the effect of several adsorptive variables such as initial concentration, pH, contact time and temperature. The adsorption performance of the prepared SA-β-CD/CNTs hydrogel was comprehensively reported with maximum percentage removal of up to 79.86% for SA-β-CD/CNTs and 69.54% for SA-β-CD. The optimum adsorption conditions were reported when the concentration of Ni(II) solution was maintained at 100 ppm, pH 5, 303 K, and contacted for 120 min with a 1000 mg dosage. The Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model are the best fits to describe the adsorption behavior. A thermodynamic study was also performed. The probable interaction mechanisms that enable the successful binding of Ni(II) on hydrogels, including electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, surface complexation, coordination binding and host-guest interaction between the cationic sites of Ni(II) on both SA-β-CD and SA-β-CD/CNTs hydrogel during the adsorption process, were discussed. The regeneration study also revealed the high efficiency of SA-β-CD/CNTs hydrogel on four successive cycles compared with SA-β-CD hydrogel. Therefore, this work signifies SA-β-CD/CNTs hydrogel has great potential to remove Ni(II) from an aqueous environment compared with SA-β-CD hydrogel.

Electron transfer mechanism mediated nitrogen-enriched biochar encapsulated cobalt nanoparticles catalyst as an effective persulfate activator for doxycycline removal

To address the current water pollution issues, one of the most important technologies is the development of efficient and environmental-friendly catalysts for the treatment of organic pollutants in water. In this study, a nitrogen-enriched biochar encapsulated cobalt nanoparticles composite (Co@N-BC) was synthesized using a one-step pyrolysis method based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and leaf biomass as precursors. The obtained Co@N-BC possessed more functional group, large specific surface area and less cobalt ion leaching, which were used for efficient persulfate (PS) activation for approximately 92.72% DOX (50 mg/L) removal in 30 min. The quenching test, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and electrochemical characterization of the Co@N-BC/PS system revealed that electron transfer was the primary pathway for DOX elimination. Moreover, the Co@N-BC/PS system had satisfactory stability in a wide pH range (2–10) and was not adversely affected by the various anions or water matrix. This research will shed new light on the design and development of MOF derivatives, as well as provide technical support for the eradication of antibiotics.

Investigation and Analysis of Pollution Source Status in Shaanxi Section of Weihe River Basin

Building ecological civilization has become a consensus of the whole society. However, problems caused by water pollution and shortage of water resources cause huge economic losses every year. Over the years, the issue of water pollution in the Weihe River has attracted widespread attention from all walks of life. The premise of controlling the water pollution of the Weihe River is to find out the sources of pollution and the amount of pollutants discharged. Therefore, this study takes the Shaanxi section of the Weihe River Basin as the research section, and conducts a basic survey of the water pollution status of the main stream and tributaries of the Weihe River, and analyzes the sources, types and discharges of major wastewater pollutants, so as to provide the basis and basic data for the comprehensive management of the Weihe River Basin.

Monitoring River Sediment by Optimizing Arduino Capabilities Controlled by the PID Algorithm

Sediment causes serious water problems, including flooding, water pollution, and other issues related to water sediment. The data found that 82% of the 550 rivers in Indonesia were polluted and in critical condition. Hence, river maintenance is essential, especially for monitoring the existence of river sediment. This research makes a device to monitor sediment in the river and measure its volume. The device consists of a small boat in which an Arduino Mega 2560 RS microcontroller was an Arduino Mega 2560 RS microcontroller which will control sensors, motors, and a rotary encoder in monitoring and measuring sediment. This paper explained how Arduino could move the boat looking for sediment, detect sediment with infrared sensors, raise and lower the sensor by adjusting the motor in front and behind the boat and finally calculate the volume of sediment. The electronic circuits, block diagrams, and programs used are described in detail in this paper and discuss sensor accuracy and accuracy of measurement results. The result is the device can detect the sediment, measure the height of the sediment, trace the sediment to measure its length, and then rotate to measure the width of the sediment. All movements are carried out by utilizing the capabilities of Arduino. The PID algorithm can precisely determine the initial position of the sensors. It can detect sediment accurately. The measurement results show that the device can work well with a relatively small error.

Establishment of anammox coupled with sulfide-depending autotrophic denitrification process and its efficient pollutants removal performance

Nitrogen and sulfur pollutants coexist in many industrial wastewaters, which may cause serious water pollution issues. In this study, Anammox coupled with sulfide-depending autotrophic denitrification process (coupling process) was established by adding sulfide to an Anammox system in a membrane bioreactor. Variations in nitrogen and sulfur removal performance, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), key enzyme activities, and microbial components were analyzed. The sulfide in 25.0 mg L−1 successfully induced denitrification, and then helped establish the coupling process. This process achieved 96.1% TN removal and complete sulfide removal when the sulfide was increased to 100.0 mg L−1. The protein and polysaccharide in EPS gradually increased to 2.0 and 4.9 mg g−1 SS, respectively. The hydroxylamine oxidoreductase activity, Heme-c content, nitrite reductase activity, and nitrate reductase activity slightly decreased to 19.1 EU g−1 SS, 0.001 mmol g−1 SS, 0.002 μg min−1 mg−1 protein, and 0.005 μg min−1 mg−1 protein, respectively, indicating the slight suppression of sulfide in high concentration on the coupling process. However, after acclimatization, the Anammox and denitrifying bacteria interacted and cooperatively contributed to the simultaneous nitrogen and sulfur removal, with relative abundances of Thiobacillus-denitrifying bacteria and Candidatus Kuenenia-Anammox bacteria of 31.7% and 9.0%, respectively. The establishing strategy was proposed and then verified in another Anammox system, in which the coupling process was also established, with TN removal increasing from 73.4% to 82.5%.

The perspective of a smart city by endorsing the nexus Bermuda triangle with the risk assessment of polluted water reuse in integrated water and food security management: the case of Semnan, Iran

AbstractLocated in a semi-arid and arid zone, Iran is suffering from growing challenges of water scarcity. In the paradigm of a circular economy, the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture is currently regarded as a possible solution for alleviating the issues of water scarcity and pollution. Accordingly, this research aims to assess the use of polluted water in the integrated management of water resources in Semnan. The research used the Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) software package to model and analyze the water sector. Also, the Bayesian network method was used to assess the risk of using polluted water and its effects on humans and plants. The research explored two general scenarios for the study site of Semnan. The first scenario assumes the increase in population, crops (food), and industries, and the second has the same assumptions plus an increase in agricultural efficiency (food production). Based on the results, the agricultural, urban, and industrial water demands are 37, 0.06, and 0.01 million m3 in the base year, respectively. The water demand in the next years will be higher due to population growth. Finally, it is safer to use the wastewater of both treatment plants of the region (Mehdishahr and Semnan) in the industry than in other sectors. Additionally, the wastewater of the Mehdishahr Sewage Treatment Plant is more reliable than that of the Semnan Sewage Treatment Plant.

Removal of heavy metals from wastewater using synthetic chelating agents

Abstract The issue of heavy metal water pollution is one that concerns everyone. Both plants and humans are negatively impacted by heavy metals. Consequently, the environment and water resources require an efficient heavy metal remediation technique. In this context, a series of compounds were investigated as potential chelating agents for the removal of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb cations from water. By solvent extraction, it was shown that the chelating ligands’ affinity for Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb as indicated by the extraction performance was in the following order: Cu > Zn > Cd > Pb. The size and electrical characteristics of the metal as well as the ligand structure affect how well L1–L6 extracts that metal.

Fabrication of a novel Ti3C2-modified Sb-SnO2 porous electrode for electrochemical oxidation of organic pollutants

Sb-SnO2 is an appealing electrode for degrading organic pollutants in wastewater treatment, albeit further modifications are needed for its inefficient electrochemical oxidation capacity. In this work, we prepared Ti3C2-modified Sb-SnO2 electrode by electrodeposition technology. High-conductive MXene matrix regulated the Sb-Sn alloy nucleation process to decrease its domain size during deposition and generated pores during the annealing process. When introducing 20 mg MXene into the electrolyte, the obtained Sb-SnO2 electrode (Ti3C2-20) presented a larger oxygen evolution over-potential (2.32 V vsSCE), increased amount of active sites, and enlarged electrochemical specific surface area (∼4.4-fold) than the unmodified electrode, resulting in a promoted OH generation ability (∼7.4 times). Methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), norfloxacin (NOR), and P-phenylenediamine (PPD) were effectively degraded by the Ti3C2-20 anode with economic energy consumption. Moreover, the Ti3C2-20 electrode also featured a longer lifetime, almost fivefold, than the unmodified Sb-SnO2 electrode due to its larger loading amount and decreased charge transfer resistance. Consequently, this work offers a new perspective for designing efficient and stable porous electrodes to address water pollution issues.

Nano Biomass Material functionalized by β-CD@Ce(NO)3 as a high performance adsorbent to removal of fluorine from wastewater

Fluorine pollution has become one of the key issues of water pollution, and the adsorption materials for efficient removal of fluorine ions have attracted much attention. It is rarely reported that the self-synthesized biomass materials were functionalized by the β-CD@Ce(NO)3. This paper mainly proposed a new synthetic method of the self-synthesized biomass materials were modified by the β-CD@Ce(NO)3 and removal of fluorine ions. The effects of this materials on the adsorption efficiency of fluorine ions under different conditions were explored, and the kinetic and thermodynamic simulations were carried out. The results show that the self-synthesized biomass materials were modified by the β-CD@Ce(NO)3 has significant pore structure, large specific surface area and multi-functional group. Adsorption experiment showed that the reaction reached adsorption equilibrium at 30 min. The removal rate of fluorine ions reached 93.13%, and the fluorine ions adsorption capacity was 37.25 mg/g under neutral conditions. The material can be recycled for more than 5 times, and the adsorption efficiency remains above 94%. The adsorption kinetics accorded with the pseudo second-order model and the adsorption isotherm equation is in line with the Langmuir isotherm adsorption model. PO43− and CO32− have the most impact on fluorine ions adsorption. This method reduces the synthesis cost of high-performance adsorption materials and improves the adsorption performance, which is conducive to the popularization and application in the future.

Facile fabrication of 3D interconnected porous boron doped polymeric g-C3N4 with enhanced visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and dye contaminant elimination

Researchers have attempted to developing high-efficiency catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and organic pollution elimination simultaneously to alleviate the issues of energy shortage and water pollution. In this work, we fabricated 3D interconnected porous boron doped polymeric g-C3N4 catalysts with efficient photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution and dye contaminant elimination under visible-light irradiation. The as-fabricated catalysts exhibited significantly enhanced hydrogen evolution (4.37 mmol g −1 h−1) and RhB contaminant elimination (96.37%) activity. Based on characterization and photocatalytic tests, an enhanced mechanism of the superior photocatalytic performance was proposed: 3D interconnected porous structure and B-doping have a synergistic effect on the greatly improved photocatalytic activity. The 3D interconnected structures endowed g-C3N4 with a higher specific surface area and abundant active sites and improved the capacity of rapid absorption to facilitate the photocatalytic process. B doping provided enhanced visible-light absorption capacity and a narrowed bandgap and served as a “highway” for electron-hole pairs to facilitate migration and separation and suppress the combination of photogenerated carriers. Besides, the possible mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic performance was elucidated according to the results of characterization measurements and active species analysis.

Efficient removal of norfloxacin using nano zerovalent cerium composite biochar-catalyzed peroxydisulfate

Norfloxacin (NOR), an important antibiotic used for the treatment of different infections which is reportedly causing huge quantity of water pollution and severe environmental issues. In this study, biochar prepared from Phoenix dactylifera roots biomass (PB) and composited with mesoporous nano-zerovalent cerium (nZVCe) was used for treatment of NOR solutions. The various characterization and treatment studies showed successful formation of the nZVCe and PB composite. The nZVCe was found to improve physiological characteristics and catalytic efficiency of PB. The nZVCe/PB composite caused 52% removal of NOR as compared to 23% by the individual PB. The use of peroxydisulfate (PDS) with PB and nZVCe/PB showed further improvement in the removal of NOR and caused 58 and 84% removal efficiencies of NOR by PB/PDS and nZVCe/PB/PDS, respectively. The use of PDS with PB and nZVCe/PB was found to yield ●OH and SO4●– which improved degradation of NOR, however, addition of ●OH and SO4●– scavengers impeded NOR degradation. The PB was found to have several oxygen functional groups which decomposed PDS into ●OH and SO4●–. The nZVCe/PB showed high recovery, reusability, and stability and caused high removal of NOR even at fifth cycle of treatment both in the absence and presence of PDS. The treatment of NOR by nZVCe/PB-catalyzed PDS showed encouraging results under different pH, and varying concentrations of PDS, nZVCe/PB, and NOR as well as in real water samples which suggest potential practical applications of NOR contaminated water. Degradation of NOR resulted into several products and the resulting final product proved to be non-toxic.

WO3/TiO2 heterojunction photocatalyst prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering for Rhodamine B dye degradation

Photocatalysis reaction has been considered as an environmentally friendly plan for solving water pollution issue and counteracting environmental degradation. The WO3/TiO2 membranes were fabricated by reactive magnetron sputtering under various conditions without a post-annealing treatment. Herein, the surface morphology, structure and photoelectric performance of composite films were investigated via SEM, XRD, Raman, XPS, AFM and EIS. The photocatalytic properties was tested via the degradation of 5 mg/L Rhodamine B (RhB) under UV light illumination in the presence of WO3/TiO2 photocatalysts. The existence of oxygen defects, which could increase the density of carriers was evident in the XPS studies. The heterojunctions exhibited superior photocatalytic property, degrading 96.49% RhB solution in 2 h under the irradiation of 300W mercury lamp. A plausible photoreaction mechanism of WO3/TiO2 heterostructures was proposed based on the capture experiment results.