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† Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details, characterization of rGO/TiO 2 composites (UV-visible absorbance, FTIR, Raman, and XPS), the photocatalytic generation and decomposition of H 2 O 2 depending on rGO contents and noble metals, the slurry-and electrode-type photocurrent production, and characterization of rGO/TiO 2 /CoPi and TiO 2 /CoPi (XPS, TEM, and EELS). See

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A nonphotochemical generation of singlet oxygen ((1)O2) using potassium periodate (KIO4) in alkaline condition (pH > 8) was investigated for selective oxidation of aqueous organic pollutants. The generation of (1)O2 was initiated by the spontaneous reaction between IO4(-) and hydroxyl ions, along with a stoichiometric conversion of IO4(-) to iodate (IO3(-)). The reactivity of in-situ-generated (1)O2 was monitored by using furfuryl alcohol (FFA) as a model substrate. The formation of (1)O2 in the KIO4/KOH system was experimentally confirmed using electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements in corroboration with quenching studies using azide as a selective (1)O2 scavenger. The reaction in the KIO4/KOH solution in both oxic and anoxic conditions initiated the generation of superoxide ion as a precursor of the singlet oxygen (confirmed by using superoxide scavengers), and the presence of molecular oxygen was not required as a precursor of (1)O2. Although hydrogen peroxide had no direct influence on the FFA oxidation process, the presence of natural organic matter, such as humic and fulvic acids, enhanced the oxidation efficiency. Using the oxidation of simple organic diols as model compounds, the enhanced (1)O2 formation is attributed to periodate-mediated oxidation of vicinal hydroxyl groups present in humic and fulvic constituent moieties. The efficient and simple generation of (1)O2 using the KIO4/KOH system without any light irradiation can be employed for the selective oxidation of aqueous organic compounds under neutral and near-alkaline conditions.

Oxidative degradation of aquatic organic contaminants using zero-valent aluminum (ZVAl) in the presence of dissolved oxygen (O2) was investigated. The metal corrosion process in acidic conditions (pH < 4) was accompanied by electron transfer from ZVAl to O2, which led to the simultaneous generation of Al3+ and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The oxidation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), a model substrate, was initiated by the generation of hydroxyl radicals (HO*) via electron transfer from Al0 to H2O2. Degradation was initiated after an induction period of about 2 h, during which the native oxide layer was dissoluted. The HO*(-) mediated oxidation reaction was completely quenched by adding methanol as a radical scavenger. Systematic studies on the effects of ZVAl loading, pH, and surface oxide content revealed that the oxide layer dissolution controlled the Al0-mediated oxidation of 4-CP. The proposed process is similarly compared with the zero-valent iron (ZVI) system, but the ZVAl/O2 system showed a higher oxidation capacity compared with ZVI/O2 because of the stability of aquo-complexed Al3+ ions over a wider pH range. The degradation of phenol, nitrobenzene, and dichloroacetate was also successfully achieved with ZVAl. The present study proposes the ZVAl/O2 process as a viable method of oxidative water treatment.

The degradation of Orange G, a monoazo dye, in aqueous solutions was investigated using as-synthesized and stored Fe-Ni bimetallic nanoparticles. Batch experiments with a nanocatalyst loading of 3 g/L showed complete dye degradation (150 mg/L) after 10 min of reaction time. HPLC-MS analysis of the degradation products showed that as-synthesized nanoparticles reductively cleaved the azo linkage to produce aniline as the major degradation product. However, 1-year-stored nanoparticles showed an oxidative degradation of Orange G through a hydroxyl-radical induced coupling of parent and/or product molecules. XPS analysis in corroboration with HPLC-MS data showed that the surface chemistry between Fe and Ni in as-synthesized and stored nanoparticles play a crucial role in directing the mode of degradation. Reductive dye degradation using as-synthesized nanoparticles proceeded through hydride transfer from nickel, whereas formation of a Fe2+ -Ni(0) galvanic cell in stored nanoparticles generated hydroxyl radicals from water in a nonFenton type reaction. The latter were responsible for the generation of radical centers on the dye molecule, which led to a coupling-mediated oxidative degradation of Orange G. The generation of hydroxyl radicals is further substantiated with radical quenching experiments using ascorbic acid indicating that stored nanoparticles degrade Orange G through a predominantly oxidative mechanism. HPLC-MS and XPS analysis of dye degradation using as-synthesized nanoparticles exposed to air and water confirmed that the reductive or oxidative degradation capability of Fe-Ni nanoparticles is decided by the time and type of catalyst aging process.

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We investigated a sequential photocatalysis-dark reaction, wherein organic pollutants were degraded on Ag/TiO under UV irradiation and the dark reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) was subsequently followed. The photocatalytic oxidation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), a test organic substrate, induced the generation of degradation intermediates and the storage of electrons in Ag/TiO which were then utilized for reducing Cr(VI) in the postirradiation period. The dark reduction efficiency of Cr(VI) was much higher with Ag/TiO (87%), compared with bare TiO (27%) and Pt/TiO (22%). The Cr(VI) removal by Ag/TiO (87%) was contributed by adsorption (31%), chemical reduction by intermediates of 4-CP degradation (26%), and reduction by electrons stored in Ag (30%). When formic acid, humic acid or ethanol was used as an alternative organic substrate, the electron storage effect was also observed. The postirradiation removal of Cr(VI) on Ag/TiO continued for hours, which is consistent with the observation that a residual potential persisted on the Ag/TiO electrode in the dark whereas little residual potential was observed on bare TiO and Pt/TiO electrodes. The stored electrons in Ag/TiO and their transfer to Cr(VI) were also indicated by the UV-visible absorption spectral change. Moreover, the electrons stored in the preirradiated Ag/TiO reacted with O with showing a sign of low-level OH radical generation in the dark period.