Property-performance relationship of core-shell structured black TiO2 photocatalyst for environmental remediation

• Published in: Frontiers of environmental science & engineering Vol. 17; no. 9; p. 111
• Main Authors: Haider, Sajjad, Nawaz, Rab, Anjum, Muzammil, Haneef, Tahir, Oad, Vipin Kumar, Uddinkhan, Salah, Khan, Rawaiz, Aqif, Muhammad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Higher Education Press 01.09.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural wastes; Agrochemical industry wastewaters; Cations; Core-shell structure; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental cleanup; Environmental restoration; Glycerol; Industrial wastes; Industrial wastewater; Phenolic compounds; Phenols; Physicochemical properties; Remediation; Research Article; Sol-gel processes; Synthesis; Titanium dioxide; Wastewater treatment; Agro-industrial effluent; Environmental remediation; Black TiO; Core-shell structure; Property-performance relationship
• ISSN: 2095-2201; 2095-221X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11783-023-1711-3

Understanding the relationship between the properties and performance of black titanium dioxide with core-shell structure (CSBT) for environmental remediation is crucial for improving its prospects in practical applications. In this study, CSBT was synthesized using a glycerol-assisted sol-gel approach. The effect of different water-to-glycerol ratios (W:G = 1:0, 9:1, 2:1, and 1:1) on the semiconducting and physicochemical properties of CSBT was investigated. The effectiveness of CSBT in removing phenolic compounds (PHCs) from real agro-industrial wastewater was studied. The CSBT synthesized with a W:G ratio of 9:1 has optimized properties for enhanced removal of PHCs. It has a distinct core-shell structure and an appropriate amount of Ti 3+ cations (11.18%), which play a crucial role in enhancing the performance of CSBT. When exposed to visible light, the CSBT performed better: 48.30% of PHCs were removed after 180 min, compared to only 21.95% for TiO 2 without core-shell structure. The CSBT consumed only 45.5235 kWh/m 3 of electrical energy per order of magnitude and cost $2.4127 per unit volume of treated agro-industrial wastewater. Under the conditions tested, the CSBT demonstrated exceptional stability and reusability. The CSBT showed promising results in the treatment of phenols-containing agro-industrial wastewater.