Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: An aqueous mixture of three compounds (atrazine, carbamazepine, and p-chlorobenzoic acid) has been treated by photochemical processes including photolysis and photocatalysis with 10.7% TiO2 supported on ceramic foams of mullite. Experiments were conducted in both ultrapure water and in a secondary effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Radiation at 365 nm was totally inefficient in the photolytic process carried out in ultrapure water; however, some sensitization phenomena were observed when municipal wastewater was used as a bulk matrix. In the latter case, conversion values in the range of 20–30% were obtained after 2 h. The photocatalytic process was much more effective experiencing conversions above 80% after just 80 min of reaction. The nature of the matrix used exerted a significant influence. Use of municipal wastewater slowed down the process due to the scavenging character of the natural organic matter content. Test runs in the presence of carbonates and t-butyl alcohol suggested that radical carbonates play some role in contaminant abatement, and secondary radicals generated after the t-BuOH attack by HO● radicals should also be considered in the reaction mechanism. A pseudo-empirical mechanism of reactions sustains the experimental result obtained, acceptably modeling the effects of a water matrix, scavenger addition, and radiation volumetric photon flux.
Source: Catalysts
Authors: Zouhour Rajah, Houda Dhibi, Mariem Abdelkader, Eva Rodriguez, Monia Guiza, Francisco Javier Rivas
Institutions: University of Gabès, Universidad de Extremadura
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,654
Award: G3480869486
OpenAlex ID: W4410520818