Functionalized TiO2‑waste‑derived photocatalytic materials for emerging pollutant degradation : synthesis and optimization

Devagi, Kanakaraju and Pheodora Pamela, Natashya and Ying Chin, Lim and Ivy Tan, Ai Wei (2025) Functionalized TiO2‑waste‑derived photocatalytic materials for emerging pollutant degradation : synthesis and optimization. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 197 (983). pp. 1-22. ISSN 1573-2959

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Abstract

Developing an effective, reusable photocatalyst that combines high photocatalytic efficiency with easy separation could significantly enhance the removal of organic pollutants. This study developed reusable photocatalysts by integrating TiO₂ with biomass-derived activated carbon (AC) and magnetite (Fe3O4) to enhance the removal of methylene blue (MB), acetaminophen (ACT), and their mixtures. Advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, including FE-SEM, EDX, TEM, FTIR, XRD, and BET, were applied to identify the physicochemical properties of the composites. Both TiO2/AC-10%(436 m2/ g) and TiO2/AC/Fe3O4 (494 m2/g) exhibited high surface areas, suggesting a significant abundance of active sites for pollutant degradation. Optimization of operational parameters, including pollutant concentration, irradiation time, and composite dosage, was conducted via response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design (BBD), using TiO2/ AC-10%. Under optimized conditions, MB and ACT removal reached 98.37% and 87.28%, respectively within 120 min. The TiO2/AC/Fe3O4 composite maintained high efficiency over five reuse cycles. These waste-derived, magnetically separable photocatalysts offer a sustainable, efficient solution for organic pollutant removal in wastewater treatment.

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