Work

WO3 as an Electron Exchange Matrix: A Novel and Efficient Treatment Method for Nitro Compounds

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide To minimize the use of the chemicals that have traditionally been needed to treat toxic organic compounds, a WO 3 electron exchange matrix (EEMWO 3 ), which requires fewer chemical solvents in line with green chemistry engineering principles, was developed for waste degradation. The EEMWO 3 was tested for its ability to remove 4-nitrophenol and 2-nitrophenol, which were chosen as models for common oxidizing toxic compounds. The nitrophenol was added in an initial amount of 7.19 × 10 –5 mol, which is a larger concentration than that reported to cause health problems. The conversion values were ∼(10–50)%, depending on the type of EEMWO 3 and on the substrate used. Ca. 10% of the WO 3 units in the matrix were observed to be reduced by BH 4 – to W(V), a value that is orders of magnitude better than that previously reported for EEM. The results indicate that the structure and the surface area of the EEMWO 3 are important parameters in the degradation process. The monoclinic hydrotungstite (WO 2 (OH) 2 ·H 2 O) was the reactive species. The same parameters also affected the recyclability of the process, and three cycles were possible with the commercial WO 3 . The tungsten oxide functioned as an active EEM without an entrapped redox species and as a skeleton, indicating that one does not have to worry about the number of active species that can be entrapped in the matrix. It can be concluded that EEMWO 3 is an efficient treatment method for toxic, oxidizing organic compounds and that it is a greener method whose use requires fewer chemicals than conventional methods.

Source: ACS Omega

DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c08455