Evaluation of the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/Nb2O5 heterojunctions in the abatement of pollutants in gas phase

• Grant number: 15/12304-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Cauê Ribeiro de Oliveira
• Grantee: Kele Tatiane Gomes Carvalho
• Host Institution: Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/01258-5 - Novel chemical catalytic and photocatalytic processes for the direct conversion of methane and CO2 to products, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/04558-0 - Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 over g-C3N4/Nb2O5 heterostructures into high value-added products using visible light, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

One of the challenges on the environmental area concerns to the development of efficient removal techniques for recalcitrant pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), carbon oxides (CO2 and CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The photocatalytic abatement of such compounds by a semiconductor catalyst has been proposed as a promising alternative process mainly due to its low operating cost and high efficiency. However, systematic studies regarding the method effectiveness in the pollutant removal in gas phase are still necessary, particularly regarding new classes of synthetic catalysts. Heterostructured systems have been extensively researched due to their significant increase in catalytic efficiency when compared to single components. In this context, this project aims to explore the versatility of the photocatalytic technique for abatement of gaseous effluents. For this, a new combination of semiconductors, g-C3N4/Nb2O5 heterostructure, never reported in the literature, will be studied. Therefore, we propose to develop a method of synthesis that will allow to control the physico-chemical and morphological characteristics of this material. The properties of solids will be evaluated in the removal of the gaseous pollutants. Nitric oxide will be used as a model molecule. The investigation of the influence of reaction operating parameters, such as temperature, UV or visible light radiation, initial mass of the photocatalyst, initial concentration of the gas, and presence of water vapor in the reaction mixture, will also be part of this study. Finally, we hope to conduct kinetic studies for the removal of contaminants in the gas phase and determine/quantify mineralization process intermediates through chromatographic techniques and mass spectrometry.

Scientific publications

(9)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ROMERO T. BUENO; OSMANDO F. LOPES; KELE T. G. CARVALHO; CAUE RIBEIRO; HENRIQUE A. J. L. MOURÃO. Semicondutores heteroestruturados: uma abordagem sobre os principais desafios para a obtenção e aplicação em processos fotoquímicos ambientais e energéticos. Química Nova, v. 42, n. 6, p. 661-675, 2019-08-15. (13/13888-0, 18/04558-0, 18/01258-5, 15/12304-0, 16/09746-3, 15/14330-8)

DA SILVA, GELSON T. S. T.; CARVALHO, KELE T. G.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; GOMES, ELIZIANA S.; MALAGUTTI, ANDREA R.; MASTELARO, VALMOR R.; RIBEIRO, CAUE; MOURAO, HENRIQUE A. J. L.. Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Assisted by N Sources and their Application in the Photodegradation of Organic Contaminants. CHEMCATCHEM, v. 9, n. 19, p. 3795-3804, OCT 10 2017. (16/09746-3, 13/17639-4, 15/12304-0, 13/13888-0)

CARVALHO, KELE T. G.; NOGUEIRA, ANDRE E.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; BYZYNSKI, GABRIELA; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Synthesis of g-C3N4/Nb2O5 heterostructures and their application in the removal of organic pollutants under visible and ultraviolet irradiation. CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL, v. 43, n. 4, p. 3521-3530, MAR 2017. (15/12304-0, 13/13888-0, 14/09014-7)

LOPES, OSMANDO F.; CARVALHO, KELE T. G.; AVANSI, JR., WALDIR; MILORI, DEBORA M. B.; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Insights into the photocatalytic performance of Bi2O2CO3/BiVO4 heterostructures prepared by one-step hydrothermal method. RSC ADVANCES, v. 8, n. 20, p. 10889-10897, 2018. (15/12304-0, 13/13888-0, 16/09746-3)

CARVALHO, KELE T. G.; ARAUJO SILVA, DOMINGOS S.; URQUIETA-GONZALEZ, ERNESTO A.. Generation of 3D-Intracrystalline Diffusion Structures from a 1D/12MR HZSM-12 Zeolite: Improvements in the Catalytic Stability. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, v. 58, n. 17, p. 7044-7051, MAY 1 2019. (14/50249-8, 15/12304-0)

CARVALHO, KELE T. G.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; FERREIRA, DEBORA C.; RIBEIRO, CAUE. ZnO:ZnWO4 heterostructure with enhanced photocatalytic activity for pollutant degradation in liquid and gas phases. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, v. 797, p. 1299-1309, AUG 15 2019. (16/09746-3, 13/17639-4, 15/12304-0, 13/13888-0)

DA SILVA, LUIS F.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; DE MENDONCA, VAGNER R.; CARVALHO, KELE T. G.; LONGO, ELSON; RIBEIRO, CAUE; MASTELARO, VALMOR R.. An Understanding of the Photocatalytic Properties and Pollutant Degradation Mechanism of SrTiO3 Nanoparticles. Photochemistry and Photobiology, v. 92, n. 3, p. 371-378, MAY-JUN 2016. (13/09573-3, 13/26366-1, 15/12304-0, 13/13888-0, 13/07296-2)

LOPES, OSMANDO F.; CARVALHO, KELE T. G.; AVANSI, JR., WALDIR; RIBEIRO, CAUE. Growth of BiVO4 Nanoparticles on a Bi2O3 Surface: Effect of Heterojunction Formation on Visible Irradiation-Driven Catalytic Performance. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, v. 121, n. 25, p. 13747-13756, JUN 29 2017. (13/17639-4, 15/12304-0, 13/13888-0)

DA SILVA, GELSON T. S. T.; CARVALHO, KELE T. G.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; RIBEIRO, CAUE. g-C3N4/Nb2O5 heterostructures tailored by sonochemical synthesis: Enhanced photocatalytic performance in oxidation of emerging pollutants driven by visible radiation. APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL, v. 216, p. 70-79, NOV 5 2017. (16/09746-3, 13/17639-4, 15/12304-0, 13/13888-0)