Phenol In Water Research Articles

Development of a Whey Protein Recovery Process Using Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) Extracts.

Whey is the largest waste product of the cheese-making industry and the current methods of extracting the nutrients from it are costly and inefficient. This study assessed the feasibility of using crude polysaccharides to flocculate proteins from liquid whey waste. The flocculants used were a sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) extract, as well as commercial seaweed polysaccharides, alginate and k-carrageenan, to recover proteins from the liquid whey waste. Physicochemical and functional parameters including protein content, protein recovery efficiency, mineral content, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity, color, water- and oil-holding capacity, gelling capacity, foaming activity and stability, and emulsifying activity and stability were tested on the resulting flocculates. The yield of the dried flocculates by use of alginate, the sugar kelp polysaccharide extract (SKPE), and carrageenan were 1.66, 0.98, and 1.22 g/100 g of liquid whey with protein contents of 27.4%, 45.5%, and 37.5%, respectively. The protein recovery efficiency from the whey was 57.5%, 56.2%, and 57.9% using alginate, SKPE, and carrageenan, respectively. The alginate flocculate had the highest oil-holding capacity and foaming abilities while the carrageenan flocculate had the best gelling ability and the highest emulsifying activity and stability. TPC and antioxidant activity were highest in the SKPE flocculate. All three flocculates presented slightly different compositional and functional qualities, which could be used for a variety of products. This study showed that seaweed polysaccharides present a simple and effective way to extract protein from liquid whey waste while creating a functional and high-protein ingredient.

Physicochemical and sensory quality of high antioxidant fruit leather of red dragon fruit and watermelon rind enriched with seaweed

Fruit, as a source of antioxidants and phenolic compounds, is perishable. It also has an underutilized component. Fruit leather has a long shelf life in the form of thin sheets with a distinctive texture. This study aimed to investigate the effect of seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii) addition on the physicochemical and sensory quality of fruit leather made from the combination of red dragon fruit and watermelon rind. The physicochemical quality was characterized by measuring the critical quality parameters of fruit leathers, including proximate analysis, water activity, total phenol, antioxidant activity, texture, and organoleptic analysis. The statistical analysis of phenolic compound activity, antioxidant activity, vitamin C, moisture content, carbohydrates, and water activity (aw) was conducted using a one-way ANOVA test, while the analysis of ash content, protein, fat, tensile strength, elongation, and organoleptic properties was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Increasing seaweed concentration significantly increased moisture, ash, protein, vitamin C, total phenol, water activity, and elongation but decreased fat content. Furthermore, the increase in seaweed concentration reduced liking toward taste and color significantly but increased texture liking. The best product was the F2 product with 10% seaweed. F2 has the following attributes: 11.07% of moisture content, 2.34% of ash, 1.53% of protein, 0.19% of fat, 84.86% of carbohydrate, 8.17 mg/100 g of vitamin C, 0.41 of water activity, 0.54 N/m2 of tensile strength, 22.22% of elongation, 107.39 ppm of IC50, 1.66 mg/GAE g of total phenolics.

Development and characterisation of nutritionally enriched honey filling as novel alternative to commercial fat-based filling for bakery applications

This research aimed to develop a novel bakery filling ingredient using honey by incorporating watermelon rind (WMR) paste and xanthan gum (XG) as an alternative to conventional fat-based fillings. The study effectively optimised honey filling preparation using a Box-Behnken design, considering variables three key independent variables: WMR paste (10–30 % w/w of honey weight), XG (1–1.5 % w/w of honey weight), and vacuum drying time (5–10 h). The impact of these was systematically evaluated across baking stability, total phenolic content (TPC), firmness, and water activity of the honey filling. The optimal conditions for honey filling preparation were identified as 27.31 % WMR paste, 1.1 % XG, and a drying time of 8 h and 54 min. The incorporation of WMR paste led to notable improvements of TPC, total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant capacity; however, XG played a vital role in enhancing the baking stability and viscoelastic nature of honey filling samples. To comprehensively assess the physicochemical, rheological, and thermal characteristics, a comparison was drawn between raw honey, optimised honey filling (OHF), and a commercial chocolate filling (CCF) as a reference. The CCF exhibited slightly higher viscoelastic behaviour but lower structural stability in comparison to OHF. On the other hand, OHF demonstrated thermal properties like those of the CCF, with enhanced antioxidant activity, lower moisture content, and minimal fat content. Therefore, OHF introduces a bakery filling option as an alternative to CCF, with superior nutritional value and enhanced rheological stability.

Ball-milled biochar-modified zero-valent aluminum activates peroxodisulfate for phenol degradation: Enhancement of catalysis by membrane-breaking effect

Zero-valent aluminum (ZVAl) is a potential activator for peroxodisulfate (PDS), yet the dense oxide film on its surface hampers electron transfer for the O−O bond cleavage of PDS. We synthesized zero-valent aluminum-biochar (BM-ZVAl@BC) composites through ball milling, which effectively disrupted the native oxide layer on BM-ZVAl@BC. Within the BM-ZVAl@BC/PDS system, biochar (BC) not only suppressed the rapid oxidation of BM-ZVAl@BC but also enhanced the dispersion and electron transfer rate of ZVAl, thereby improving the overall catalytic efficiency. Consequently, the phenol removal efficacy in the BM-ZVAl@BC/PDS system was notably improved. Optimal catalytic performance of the prepared BM-ZVAl@BC was achieved at a charcoal-to‑aluminum mass ratio of 2:1, resulting in 95.7 % phenol removal after 180 min. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis revealed that both free radicals (SO4•−, •OH, and O2•−) and non-radical species (1O2) contributed to phenol degradation, with SO4•− and •OH playing predominant roles. In summary, the BM-ZVAl@BC/PDS system represented an effective and promising technology for the remediation of phenolic water pollutants.

ПОВЫШЕНИЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ПРОЦЕССА ДЕСОРБЦИИ СЕРОВОДОРОДА ИЗ ФЕНОЛЬНО-СУЛЬФИДНОЙ ВОДЫ

The paper evaluates the efficiency of hydrogen sulfide desorption from phenolic sulfide water on contact devices with overflow pipesv

Dehydration of phenolic-rich extract from rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) peel by foam mat drying

Foam mat drying was used for the dehydration of a phenolic-rich rambutan peel extract. Foam products were evaluated for their physicochemical stability during storage. Experiments were carried out to determine the effect of foaming (10% of egg albumin/soy protein/pea protein) and stabilizing agents (0.5% of methylcellulose); storage conditions i.e. type of packages (polyethylene, glass), packaging techniques (modified atmosphere packaging, vacuum) under light or dark at 30 °C on phenolic compositions, antioxidant activity, water activity (aw), and color of foam products during 5 months storage. Foam products produced from egg albumin showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC) (8.73 ± 0.17 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity (7.47–9.70 mg TE/g). During storage, TPC, antioxidant activity, and the amount of individual phenolic compounds (geraniin, corilagin, rutin, ellagic acid, and quercetin) mostly decreased independent of the presence of light. Aw in all samples increased from 0.25 to 0.38 - 0.45 (except for the samples in glass packaging); whereas the color of the samples was insignificantly changed for 5 months. Rambutan peel phenolic-rich extract encapsulated within egg albumin can be stored at least 5 months with minimal quality changes and might be used as a food preservative ingredient.

Facilitation of coke gasification by coking wastewater and its degradation properties in thermochemical reactions.

The thermochemical reaction between coking wastewater and gasification-coke is a new way to achieve efficient and clean use of coal and solve the problem of coking wastewater treatment in the Gansu Longdong region. To further investigate the thermochemical reaction characteristics of coking wastewater and gasification-coke, this paper explores the effect of coking wastewater on syngas production from coke gasification at 1000 °C, the degradation effect of organic pollutants in coking wastewater, the thermochemical reactivity of gasification-coke, and the reasons why wastewater promotes coke gasification and wastewater degradation. The results showed that the thermochemical reaction of coking wastewater with gasification-coke not only facilitates the improvement of syngas yield and low-level calorific value but also improves the thermochemical reactivity of gasification-coke. Notably, phenol in coking wastewater plays a major role in promoting the gasification of gasification-coke. During the thermochemical reaction, the organic pollutants in the wastewater were effectively degraded, the degradation rate of CODCr reached more than 85%, and the degradation of organic pollutants reached more than 75%. Phenol water and coking wastewater can not only improve the dispersion of the ash phase on the surface of gasification-coke, effectively inhibiting the sintering and agglomeration of the ash phase in gasification-coke, but also change the type and number of organic functional groups in gasification-coke. Therefore, coking wastewater can promote the gasification of coke. The thermochemical reaction between coke wastewater and gasification-coke can simultaneously promote coke gasification and the degradation of coke wastewater and achieve the resourceful use of coke wastewater.

Математичний метод визначення викидів забруднюючих речовин в атмосферне повітря з джерел БХУ на коксохімічному виробництві

The article considers the issues related to the use of large volumes of water in the technological processes of coke production, which results in the generation of a large amount of polluted wastewater of different origin and properties. It is noted that a separate wastewater sewerage system is used at coke plant allows differentiated solutions to the methods of treatment of wastewater of different composition and the fullest use of treated wastewater for the production needs of the enterprise. Water supply to the main water consumers at the coke plant is applied according to the reverse scheme. The article characterises the quantitative and qualitative composition of wastewater coming from different shops of coke production. The necessity of efficient purification of phenolic waters at a waste water treatment plant is considered, which is dictated by their further use according to the technological scheme in production. The analysis of the waste water treatment plant as a source of air pollution and the need to determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of pollutant emissions from the waste water treatment plant to assess the environmental impact are provided. The methods for determining pollutant emissions from waste water treatment plants, which are currently used at existing enterprises and in the design of waste water treatment plant facilities, are considered. The necessity of developing a methodology for calculating pollutant emissions from waste water treatment plants at coke production is substantiated. The list of basic initial indicators for performing mathematical calculations of pollutant emissions from waste water treatment plant facilities in coke production is established. The algorithms of mathematical calculations of the quantitative composition of pollutant emissions from the tank equipment depending on the characteristics of the technological process and design features of the waste water treatment plants tanks are presented. Keywords: coke production, wastewater, pollutant emissions, composition, treatment, waste water treatment plant, methodology. Corresponding author: Trembach T.F., e-mail: ozos@giprokoks.com

CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNDAR PERICARP (Garcinia forbesii) EXTRACT FROM BANJAR DISTRICT OF INDONESIA

The mundar plant (Garcinia forbesii) is a typical fruit of South Kalimantan. The people use mundar empirically as a spice, cosmetic, and medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of mundar extract from Karang Intan and Beruntung Baru districts in Banjar Regency. The collection of plants from two places, plant determination, and extraction with 70% ethanol. The extract was then characterized. The characterization showed that the Garcinia forbesii pericarp extract from both places was dark brown, distinctive odor, sour taste, and thick. Both extracts contained flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and anthraquinones. The chromatography of both extracts was the same and detected to alpha-mangosten. The extract from Karang Intan district has a yield 59.99%, total phenolic content 0.888%, moisture content 9.78%, total ash content 1.10%, and acid insoluble ash content 0.06%. The extract from Beruntung Baru district has a yield 58.74%, total phenolic content 0.823%, moisture content 9.93%, total ash content 1.59%, and acid insoluble ash content 0.04%. Garcinia forbesii pericarp extracts from from two places have the same organoleptical characteristics, phytochemical compounds, and chromatography patterns. The differences are in yield percentage, total phenolic content, water content, ash content, and acid insoluble ash content

Influence of plasma-activated γ-aminobutyric acid on tissue browning and water migration in fresh-cut potato during storage

Plasma-activated water (PAW) accelerated tissue browning in fresh-cut fruit. In this study, plasma-activated γ-aminobutyric acid (PG) was applied in potato slices. We aimed to contrast the impacts of PAW, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and PG on changes in phenol metabolism and water distribution in potato slices. The results highlighted that PG proved to be the most effective treatment in terms of sterilization, inhibition of browning, and prevention of water. PG facilitated the activation of antioxidant enzymes, thereby eliminating reactive oxygen species and maintaining the integrity of cell membranes. Furthermore, PG exhibited the capacity to inhibit enzymatic browning caused by polyphenols, which was achieved through enhancing the activities of enzymes associated with phenylpropane metabolism and suppressing polyphenol oxidase activity. PG also protected the surface integrity of the potato slices as evident from SEM analysis. Additionally, NMR result indicated that PG played a role in maintaining free water content and inhibiting moisture migration.

Influence of Post-Harvest Processing on Functional Properties of Coffee (Coffea arabica L.).

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, valued for its sensory properties as well as for its psychoactive effects that are associated with caffeine content. Nevertheless, coffee also contains antioxidant substances. Therefore, it can be considered a functional beverage. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of four selected post-harvest coffee fruit treatments (natural, full washed, washed-extended fermentation, and anaerobic) on the antioxidant and psychoactive properties of Arabica coffee. Additionally, the impact of coffee processing on the selected quality parameters was checked. For this purpose, results for caffeine content, total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH assay, pH, titratable acidity, and water content were determined. The results show that natural and anaerobic processing allow the highest caffeine concentration to be retained. The selection of the processing method does not have a significant influence on the TPC or antiradical activity of coffee. The identified differences concerning water content and pH along with lack of significant discrepancies in titratable acidity may have an influence on the sensory profile of coffee.

Valorization of phenolic compounds from brewery wastewater: Performances assessment of ultrafiltration and nanofiltration process with application of HPLC coupled with antioxidant analysis tool

Phenolic-rich brewery alkaline wastewater sustainable valorization with membrane technology was investigated. Intensified process of preselected ceramic 15 kDa ultrafiltration and 200 Da nanofiltration membranes was studied at pH 4, 6.5, 10 and 13.5 to prospect the best operation conditions of phenolic compounds (PC) recovery and water reclamation process regarding fouling inclination, productivity and selectivity performances. Flux-limiting phenomena propensity according to pH were investigated. HPLC coupled with online antioxidant capacity innovative analysis was used to assess PC selectivity behavior and its subsequent impact on antioxidant properties of concentrated wastewater. Flux-limiting phenomena consisted of PC, carbohydrates and proteins pore blocking and cake layer during ultrafiltration and was corroborated to pH acidity. Osmotic pressure due to ions concentration polarization was predominant during nanofiltration and was lower during pH 4 and 13.5 due to membrane characteristics. PC selectivity by ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes was determined with compounds size and chemistry, along with pH effect on molecules and membrane charges. The chemical structure of single PC led to differential segregation through the valorization process, and thus to modification of the antioxidant profile of concentrated wastewater. pH 13.5 showed controlled fouling development and advantageous selectivity and productivity performance, and nanofiltration yielded concentrated PC retentate for resource recovery and clarified permeate for water and alkalis reclamation.

Comparison of lipooligosaccharides from human challenge strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The alarming rise of antibiotic resistance and the emergence of new vaccine technologies have increased the focus on vaccination to control gonorrhea. Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains FA1090 and MS11 have been used in challenge studies in human males. We used negative-ion MALDI-TOF MS to profile intact lipooligosaccharide (LOS) from strains MS11mkA, MS11mkC, FA1090 A23a, and FA1090 1-81-S2. The MS11mkC and 1-81-S2 variants were isolated from male volunteers infected with MS11mkA and A23a, respectively. LOS profiles were obtained after purification using the classical phenol water extraction method and by microwave-enhanced enzymatic digestion, which is more amenable for small-scale work. Despite detecting some differences in the LOS profiles, the same major species were observed, indicating that microwave-enhanced enzymatic digestion is appropriate for MS studies. The compositions determined for MS11mkA and mkC LOS were consistent with previous reports. FA1090 is strongly recognized by mAb 2C7, an antibody-binding LOS with both α- and β-chains if the latter is a lactosyl group. The spectra of the A23a and 1-81-S2 FA1090 LOS were similar to each other and consistent with the expression of α-chain lacto-N-neotetraose and β-chain lactosyl moieties that can both be acceptor sites for sialic acid substitution. 1-81-S2 LOS was analyzed after culture with and without media supplemented with cytidine-5'-monophosphate N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-Neu5Ac), which N. gonorrhoeae needs to sialylate its LOS. LOS sialylation reduces the infectivity of gonococci in men, although it induces serum resistance in serum-sensitive strains and reduces killing by neutrophils and antimicrobial peptides. The infectivity of FA1090 in men is much lower than that of MS11mkC, but the reason for this difference is unclear. Interestingly, some peaks in the spectra of 1-81-S2 LOS after bacterial culture with CMP-Neu5Ac were consistent with disialylation of the LOS, which could be relevant to the reduced infectivity of FA1090 in men and could have implications regarding the phase variation of the LOS and the natural history of infection.

State-of-the-art Membrane Processing of Solution Rich in Phenolic Compounds

Polyphenols and phenolic acids extracted from plants are natural antioxidants with high market value. However, they are susceptible to thermal processes, and a significant loss throughout food and beverage processing has been widely reported. This work reviews the state-of-the-aft membrane processing of the solution rich in phenolic compounds. Novel membrane processing allows phenolic concentration and water recovery simultaneously without using hazardous chemicals and high temperatures. Comparing pressure-driven membrane filtration processes with the advanced membrane processes at the low pressure in this review allowed the proper process selection to concentration phenolic coumpounds. Pressure-driven membrane filtration processes, namely microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis, have been studied. Nanofiltration membranes offer high retention of polyphenols due to their matching molecular weight cut-off. Osmotic distillation, membrane distillation and forward osmosis are membrane processes operated at low pressure. Osmotic distillation and forward osmosis require drawing solutions with osmotic pressure differences to separate water from phenolic compounds. A similar separation is attained in membrane distillation by creating vapour pressure differences. Membrane distillation without drawing solution is recommended since membrane fouling can be mitigated using superhydrophobic membranes with self-cleaning properties.

Constructing durable BiFeO3@SrBi2B2O7 p-n heterojunction for persulfate enhanced piezo-photocatalytic water purification

Photoresponse piezoelectric materials have attracted tremendous interest as a new generation of photocatalysts for water purification. However, the development of durable and efficient piezo-photocatalyst remains to be a challenging task. Herein, a novel BiFeO3@SrBi2B2O7 (BFO@SBBO) p-n heterojunction with ultrahigh piezo-photocatalytic ability was fabricated after adjustment of BFO outer layer thickness, and utilized to activate persulfate (PS) for efficient water decontamination. The synergistic effect between the internal electric field across the heterojunction and the PS greatly improves the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. In the presence of ultrasonic mechanical vibration, 10 mg/L bisphenol A (BPA) was completely removed within 20 min with the assistance of a low dosage of PS upon visible light irradiation, which outperform various piezo-photocatalysts. Transformation and contribution of reactive oxygen species (ROSs, i.e., OH, O2−, 1O2 and SO4−) generated in the BFO@SBBO/US/Vis/PS system were evaluated and semi-quantified to understand the mechanism of BPA piezo-photocatalytic degradation. The stability and performance of BFO@SBBO piezo-photocatalysis toward typical organic pollutants and actual phenolic water remediation were evaluated, which confirmed the promising practical potential of BFO@SBBO in water remediation. This study offers a new insight into strategies for highly efficient piezo-photocatalyst for photocatalytic water remediation.

Density functional theory investigation of interactions between phenolic compounds and water or hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent

Density functional theory investigation of interactions between phenolic compounds and water or hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent

A new resonance Rayleigh scattering method for phenol based on Cr(III) metal–organic framework probe and 4-aminoantipyrine reaction

Stable Cr(III) metal–organic framework (CrMOF) was prepared and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was found that in the presence of potassium periodate (KIO4), phenol (PN) reacted with 4-aminoantipyrine (AAP) to form red quinone imine (QI) product, and a resonance Rayleigh scattering energy transfer (RRS-ET) occurred between the acceptor QI and the donor CrMOF. With the increase of PN concentration, RRS-ET increased, and the RRS intensity at 500 nm decreased. Based on this, a new and simple RRS-ET method for the detection of PN was established, with a detection range of 0.01–0.15 mmol/L and a detection limit (DL) of 0.005 mmol/L. The new RRS-ET method was applied to the determination of PN in water. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was 0.94–7.43%, and the recovery was 97–107%.

Phenol adsorption properties and microstructural changes of organically modified bentonite

Phenolic compounds are prevalent organic contaminants in aquatic and soil environments. To address the issue of phenolic waste water treatment, bentonite can be utilised as an effective adsorbent through organic modification. The present study focuses on using sodium bentonite, which was modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB), to remove phenol from an aqueous solution. The influence of various factors such as adsorption time, initial phenol concentration and CTMAB–bentonite dosage on phenol adsorption was thoroughly investigated. In addition, the microstructural changes during the adsorption process, adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms of the organically modified bentonite (OMB) were analysed. The results indicated that the adsorption equilibrium time of OMB was longer compared with that of sodium bentonite. The amount of phenol adsorbed by OMB was found to be positively correlated with the initial phenol concentration and CTMAB–bentonite dosage. The maximum phenol adsorption capacity and removal rate achieved were 3.00 mg/g and 43.74%, respectively. The study also revealed that a quasi-second-order kinetic model was appropriate for describing the phenol adsorption process of OMB, and the adsorption isotherm was found to conform with the Freundlich isotherm model. These findings demonstrate the potential of OMB as an efficient and effective adsorbent for phenolic waste water treatment.

Characterization and Biodegradation of Phenol by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella variicola Strains Isolated from Sewage Sludge and Their Effect on Soybean Seeds Germination.

Phenols are very soluble in water; as a result, they can pollute a massive volume of fresh water, wastewater, groundwater, oceans, and soil, negatively affecting plant germination and animal and human health. For the detoxification and bioremediation of phenol in wastewater, phenol biodegradation using novel bacteria isolated from sewage sludge was investigated. Twenty samples from sewage sludge (SS) were collected, and bacteria in SS contents were cultured in the mineral salt agar (MSA) containing phenol (500 mg/L). Twenty colonies (S1 up to S20) were recovered from all the tested SS samples. The characteristics of three bacterial properties, 16S rDNA sequencing, similarities, GenBank accession number, and phylogenetic analysis showed that strains S3, S10, and S18 were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella variicola, respectively. P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and K. variicola were able to degrade 1000 mg/L phenol in the mineral salt medium. The bacterial strains from sewage sludge were efficient in removing 71.70 and 74.67% of phenol at 1000 mg/L within three days and could tolerate high phenol concentrations (2000 mg/L). The findings showed that P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and K. variicola could potentially treat phenolic water. All soybean and faba bean seeds were germinated after being treated with 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg/L phenol in a mineral salt medium inoculated with these strains. The highest maximum phenol removal and detoxification rates were P. aeruginosa and K. variicola. These strains may help decompose and detoxify phenol from industrial wastewater with high phenol levels and bioremediating phenol-contaminated soils.

Solar-Light-Responsive Nanomaterials for the Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation of Stubborn Pollutants

Due to the ever increasing demand for cleaner water, a remarkable focus has been on the use of nanomaterials in wastewater treatment application. Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation, an advanced oxidation process which combines light and electrical energy, has been identified as a suitable technique capable of achieving total mineralisation of recalcitrant organic pollutants in wastewater. PEC degradation is non-selective, environmentally friendly and possesses great efficiency. The efficiency of PEC degradation has been enhanced by fabricating the photoanodes on a nanoscale with distinct morphologies. These nanostructured photoanodes have been extensively used for the removal of pharmaceuticals, dyes and phenolic water from wastewater. In many cases, total degradation of the pollutants is achieved within 2 h with significant TOC removal. This review presents an overview of the remarkable success that has been recorded with the use of nanostructured photoanodes in PEC degradation in the presence of visible light. The techniques that are commonly employed to improve the solar light responsiveness of these photoanodes are well discussed. Additionally, the use of nanostructured photoanodes consisting of heterojunction in PEC degradation is also presented. It is our aim that this review will help researchers to make informed decisions regarding the use of nanomaterials in PEC water treatment.