Development of photoelectrocatalytic membranes based on TiO2 and Al2O3 modified and applied in the treatment of organic contaminants and microorganisms in aqueous solution

• Grant number: 17/13123-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2017
• End date: July 19, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Maria Valnice Boldrin
• Grantee: Alysson Stefan Martins
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/25563-1 - Photo-electrocatalytic foam membranes for zero liquid discharge degradation of organic pollutants, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Effective technologies for the treatment of water and effluents represent a challenge of our society. For this purpose, the combination of conventional techniques of treatments with advanced oxidative processes such as photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) can be considered as a promising alternative. The present project proposes to synthesize, characterize and apply membranes of separation with photoelectrocatalytic characteristics in order to develop innovative separation systems simultaneously with the degradation/disinfection of organic pollutants and microorganisms in water. Three membrane models will be tested: i) Al2O3 membranes modified with carbon nanotubes (MWNC) and WO3 as semiconductor, synthesized by extrusion; ii) Al2O3 nanotubular membranes coated by CuO; iii) TiO2 nanotubular membranes autodoped with Ti+3 via electrochemical reduction. The evaluation of structure, stability and photoactivity will be performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with X-ray dispersive energy analysis (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements. The applicability of the membranes will be evaluated for three different pollutant models: (a) the dye reactive red 120 and (b) the tannic acid as representatives of organic contaminants and (c) the fungus Candida parapsilosis as a model for microorganisms. In the final step, we hope to apply the best membranes in real samples from hemodialysis centers inoculated with microorganism. The efficiency of degradation and inactivation of the pollutants will be evaluated through high performance liquid chromatography, total organic carbon removal, UV-Vis spectroscopy and microbial counting measurements. In summary, it is expected that the synergy between the two techniques can eliminates the main limitation of filtration systems that is the pore fouling and also allows the physical removal of the contaminants as well as the oxidation of the organic compounds and inactivation of the microorganisms.

Scientific publications

(8)

(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)

ROMEIRO, F. C.; SILVA, B. C.; MARTINS, A. S.; ZANONI, M. V. B.; ORLANDI, M. O.. Superior performance of rGO-tin oxide nanocomposite for selective reduction of CO2 to methanol. JOURNAL OF CO2 UTILIZATION, v. 46, APR 2021. (14/50945-4, 19/18856-5, 17/26219-0, 17/13123-4)

MARQUES CORDEIRO-JUNIOR, PAULO JORGE; MARTINS, ALYSSON STEFAN; SANTANA PEREIRA, GEORGE BUENO; ROCHA, FILLIPE VIEIRA; RODRIGO RODRIGO, MANUEL ANDRES; DE VASCONCELOS LANZA, MARCOS ROBERTO. Bisphenol-S removal via photoelectro-fenton/H2O2 process using Co-porphyrin/Printex L6 gas diffusion electrode. Separation and Purification Technology, v. 285, p. 13-pg., 2022-03-15. (20/13088-7, 19/11242-1, 17/10118-0, 16/04201-9, 14/50945-4, 16/01937-4, 17/13123-4, 16/19612-4)

ROMEIRO, FERNANDA DA COSTA; MARTINS, ALYSSON STEFAN; COSTA E SILVA, BEATRIZ; BOLDRIN ZANONI, MARIA VALNICE; ORLANDI, MARCELO ORNAGHI. Photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation at hybrid rGO-Sn3O4/SnO2 nanocomposite. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, v. 52, n. 10, p. 12-pg., 2022-07-28. (17/13123-4, 19/18856-5, 17/26219-0, 14/50945-4)

MARTINS, ALYSSON STEFAN; LACHGAR, ABDOU; BOLDRIN ZANONI, MARIA VALNICE. Sandwich Nylon/stainless-steel/WO3 membrane for the photoelectrocatalytic removal of Reactive Red 120 dye applied in a flow reactor. Separation and Purification Technology, v. 237, APR 15 2020. (17/13123-4, 14/50945-4)

MARTINS, ALYSSON STEFAN; GUARALDO, THAIS TASSO; WENK, JANNIS; MATTIA, DAVIDE; BOLDRIN ZANONI, MARIA VALNICE. Nanoporous WO3 grown on a 3D tungsten mesh by electrochemical anodization for enhanced photoelectrocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in a continuous flow reactor. JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, v. 920, p. 12-pg., 2022-07-18. (18/25563-1, 17/13123-4, 14/50945-4)

SAYAO, FABIANA AVOLIO; MARTINS, ALYSSON STEFAN; DA SILVA, JOSIEL JOSE; BOLDRIN ZANONI, MARIA VALNICE. Evaluation of Ni-0, NiO, and NiS as a Cocatalyst Modifier on TiO2 Nanotubes Matrix for the Enhancement of Photoelectrocatalytic Oxidation of Penicillin G. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, v. 168, n. 7, JUL 1 2021. (14/50945-4, 17/13123-4)

MARTINS, ALYSSON STEFAN; MARQUES CORDEIRO-JUNIOR, PAULO JORGE; BESSEGATO, GUILHERME GARCIA; CARNEIRO, JUSSARA FERNANDES; BOLDRIN ZANONI, MARIA VALNICE; DE VASCONCELOS LANZA, MARCOS ROBERTO. Electrodeposition of WO3 on Ti substrate and the influence of interfacial oxide layer generated in situ: A photoelectrocatalytic degradation of propyl paraben. Applied Surface Science, v. 464, p. 664-672, JAN 15 2019. (14/03679-7, 13/08543-3, 17/13123-4, 17/10118-0)

CORDEIRO, PAULO JORGE MARQUES; MARTINS, ALYSSON STEFAN; PEREIRA, GEORGE BUENO SANTANA; ROCHA, FILLIPE VIEIRA; RODRIGO, MANUEL ANDRES RODRIGO; LANZA, MARCOS ROBERTO DE VASCONCELOS. High-performance gas-diffusion electrodes for H2O2 electrosynthesis. Electrochimica Acta, v. 430, p. 11-pg., 2022-08-29. (14/50945-4, 19/11242-1, 16/04201-9, 17/10118-0, 20/13088-7, 17/13123-4, 16/19612-4, 16/01937-4)