Treatment of saline produced water through photocatalysis using rGO-TiO2nanocomposites

Identifier:  imarina:4090805

Handle:  https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina4090805

Authors:  Andreozzi, Mario; Alvarez, Mayra G; Contreras, Sandra; Medina, Francesc; Clarizia, Laura; Vitiello, Giuseppe; Llorca, Jordi; Marotta, Raffaele

Abstract:
© 2018 Elsevier B.V. Graphene like-TiO2nanocomposites (rGO-TiO2) are prepared via hydrothermal route by following different synthetic protocols. The as-prepared nanostructured materials exhibit higher photocatalytic activity than bare TiO2in the treatment of synthetic produced water containing high salinity levels and different compositions of recalcitrant dissolved organic matter. The effect of the preparation method on the physico-chemical properties is assessed by performing a wide characterization combining different analyses, such as nitrogen physic-adsorption (BET), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), UV-VIS Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRUV) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). The effect of several operative variables (i.e., TiO2/rGO weight ratios, and addition of hydrogen peroxide) on the photocatalytic activity is also critically evaluated. The highest photocatalytic activity is obtained for a rGO/TiO2weight ratio of about 10%, for which a good compromise between uniformity of dispersion of the TiO2particles on the rGO layers and covering degree of the titania photoactive surface is achieved. This study can contribute to open new perspectives in the design of high performance graphene like-based TiO2photocatalysts for removing hydrophobic bio-recalcitrant pollutants from saline water.