Remediation of Diethyl Phthalate in Aqueous Effluents with TiO2-Supported Rh0 Nanoparticles as Multicatalytic Materials

Abstract

An innovative “domino” process, based on an arene hydrogenation followed by a photocatalytic step, was designed for the remediation of endocrine disrupting compounds, in highly concentrated aqueous effluents. The novelty relies on the use of TiO2-supported zerovalent Rh nanoparticles as multicatalytic materials (MCMs) for this two-step treatment, applied on diethyl phthalate, which is a model aromatic pollutant frequently present in aquatic environments. This nanocomposite advanced material, which was easily prepared by a green, wet impregnation methodology, proved to be active in the successive reactions, the reduction in the aromatic ring, and the photodegradation step. This sustainable approach offers promising alternatives in the case of photoresistive compounds.

Enhancing Photocatalysis: Understanding the Mechanistic Diversity in Photocatalysts Modified with Single‐Atom Catalytic Sites

“…First, the photodegradation of diethyl phthalate (DEP), a toxic pollutant that does not adsorb well onto TiO 2 was investigated; the kinetics of DEP degradation are typically significantly slower than those of 2,4‐D. [ 34 ] Again, the photocatalytic degradation rate was enhanced for the SAC‐modified materials a‐TiO 2 ‐Cu SA , a‐TiO 2 ‐Fe SA , and a‐TiO 2 (400)‐V SA by factors of ≈3.9, ≈2.9, and ≈2.8, respectively, compared with that of the corresponding unmodified TiO 2 samples (Figure 3c ). Moreover, with the exception of a‐TiO 2 ‐Fe SA , all SAC‐modified materials outperformed the corresponding nanoparticle‐modified samples.…”

“…[33] Because the specific performance of TiO 2 -based photocatalysts is known to be highly substrate dependent, two other photocatalytic reactions were investigated to obtain a more accurate assessment of the advantages and limitations of the developed SAC-modified photocatalysts. First, the photodegradation of diethyl phthalate (DEP), a toxic pollutant that does not adsorb well onto TiO 2 was investigated; the kinetics of DEP degradation are typically significantly slower than those of 2,4-D. [34] Again, the photocatalytic degradation rate was enhanced for the SAC-modified materials a-TiO 2 -Cu SA , a-TiO 2 -Fe SA , and a-TiO 2 (400)-V SA by factors of ≈3.9, ≈2.9, and ≈2.8, respectively, compared with that of the corresponding unmodified TiO 2 samples (Figure 3c). Moreover, with the exception of a-TiO 2 -Fe SA , all SAC-modified materials outperformed the corresponding nanoparticle-modified samples.…”

Enhancing Photocatalysis: Understanding the Mechanistic Diversity in Photocatalysts Modified with Single-Atom Catalytic Sites

“…[32] Since the specific performance of TiO2-based photocatalysts is known to be highly substratedependent, we investigated also two further photocatalytic reactions in order to get a more solid assessment of the advantages and limits of our SAC-modified photocatalysts. Firstly, we investigated the photodegradation of diethyl phthalate (DEP), a toxic pollutant that does not adsorb well onto TiO2 and its degradation kinetics is typically significantly slower than that of 2,4-D. [33] Again, the photocatalytic degradation rate was enhanced at SAC-modified materials a-TiO2-Cu SA , a-TiO2-Fe SA and a-TiO2(400)-V SA by the factors of ~3.9, ~2.9, ~2.8, respectively, as compared to corresponding unmodified TiO2 samples (Figure 3c). Secondly, the OH radical formation rate determined by the oxidation of terephthalic acid to hydroxyterephthalic acid was also significantly enhanced at all SAC-modified samples, showing the highest rate in the case of a-TiO2(400)-V SA (Figure 3d).…”