Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of pollutants (bisphenol-A, sulfamerazine, and 2,4-D) using H2O2 electrogenerated in carbonaceous matrices obtained from sustainable sources

• Grant number: 22/04058-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Grantee: Nicolas Perciani de Moraes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/12895-1 - Advanced processes for the degradation of emerging pollutants: catalytic materials, electroanalytical sensors and scientific dissemination, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/06648-7 - Hybrid heterogeneous photocatalysis/electro-peroxone advanced oxidation process for the efficient degradation of the sulfamerazine antibiotic in aqueous medium, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Currently, the development of clean and efficient technologies for the remediation of toxic industrial waste is of vital importance. In this context, the in-situ generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by carbonaceous gas diffusion electrodes (EDGs) and the subsequent creation of hydroxyl radicals through the homogeneous photoelectro-Fenton process emerges as an efficient way for the treatment of effluents containing emerging organic pollutants, such as antibiotics, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors. Aiming at the efficient and sustainable generation of H2O2, the development of carbon gel EDGs synthesized from renewable carbon sources (such as lignin, tannin, and cellulose) is a highly relevant tactic to improve the environmental and economic factors involved in the photoelectro-Fenton process. Furthermore, the association of this method with the heterogeneous photocatalysis process emerges as a promising strategy for optimizing the remediation efficiency of toxic effluents, due to the increase of hydroxyl radicals in the reaction medium. Regarding heterogeneous photocatalysis, the optimization of the photodegradation process can be achieved by the development of photocatalysts based on the formation of S-scheme heterojunctions between semiconductors, since this strategy leads to the efficient transport of photogenerated charges and the consequent intensification of the active radical's generation. Therefore, this project proposes the association of the photoelectro-Fenton process employing sustainable carbonaceous EDGs and heterogeneous photocatalysis using TiO2/KNbO3/g-C3N4 photocatalysts for the degradation of the model pollutants bisphenol-A, sulfamerazine, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid under ultraviolet and solar irradiation, in benchtop batch reactor and pilot batch reactor. The proposed S-scheme heterojunction between the 3 semiconductors aims to facilitate charge transport and increase photocatalytic activity under visible radiation. The efficiency of the proposed degradation process will be evaluated using the techniques of spectrophotometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, total organic carbon content, and mass spectrometry.

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)

PORTO, TULIO PINHEIRO; LOURENCO, JULIO CESAR; NOGUEIRA, BEATRIZ; DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; SOUTO, ROBSON DA SILVA; SIQUEIRA, ADRIANO FRANCISCO; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES; LANZA, MARCOS ROBERTO DE VASCONCELOS; ROCHA, ROBSON DA SILVA. Synthesis of activated carbon from sugarcane bagasse using blends of hydroxides for maximizing reaction targeted at obtaining hydrogen peroxide. BIOMASS & BIOENERGY, v. 191, p. 11-pg., 2024-10-18. (21/12053-8, 23/04230-2, 22/12895-1, 23/07750-7, 22/04058-2, 23/12207-0, 21/14194-8)

GOUVEA, MAIRA ELIZABETH VICENTE; BOLDRIN, FLAVIO HENRIQUE COVOLAM; DA SILVA, BRUNO HENRIQUE BAENA; PAIVA, LIVIA KENT; DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; DE AGUIAR, LEANDRO GONCALVES; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Fluidized bed reactor for 4-chlorophenol photodegradation via solar and visible radiation using ZnO/g-C3N4/carbon xerogel as a photocatalyst. CHEMICAL PHYSICS IMPACT, v. 8, p. 12-pg., 2023-12-13. (18/06361-9, 18/10492-1, 22/04058-2)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; DE OLIVEIRA, MATHEUS FERNANDES; BACANI, REBECA; ROCHA, ROBSON DA SILVA; LANZA, MARCOS ROBERTO DE VASCONCELOS; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Stabilizing the S-scheme ZnO/ZnCr2O4/Bi6Cr2O15 heterojunction through the application of carbon xerogel as both a solid-state mediator and reducing agent. MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING, v. 177, p. 12-pg., 2024-04-07. (14/50945-4, 18/16360-0, 18/10492-1, 17/10118-0, 22/04058-2)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; RIBEIRO, PEDRO MALAVOTA; DA SILVA, BRUNO HENRIQUE BAENA; CAMPOS, TIAGO MOREIRA BASTOS; THIM, GILMAR PATROCINIO; LANZA, MARCOS ROBERTO DE VASCONCELOS; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Bi₂S₃ for sunlight-based Cr(VI) photoreduction: investigating the effect of sulfur precursor on its structural and photocatalytic properties. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, v. 112, n. 2, p. 14-pg., 2024-09-19. (20/12874-9, 14/50945-4, 18/16360-0, 18/10492-1, 22/12895-1, 17/10118-0, 22/04058-2)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; BOLDRIN, FLAVIO HENRIQUE COVOLAM; CAMPOS, TIAGO MOREIRA BASTOS; THIM, GILMAR PATROCINIO; YU, LIANQING; LANZA, MARCOS ROBERTO DE VASCONCELOS; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Black-wattle tannin/kraft lignin H3PO4-activated carbon xerogels as excellent and sustainable adsorbents. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 227, p. 13-pg., 2022-12-19. (17/10118-0, 18/10492-1, 18/16360-0, 22/04058-2)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; DOS SANTOS, RAFAELA DIAS MOREIRA; GOUVEA, MAIRA ELIZABETH VICENTE; DE SIERVO, ABNER; ROCHA, ROBSON DA SILVA; REDDY, DEVULAPALLI AMARANATHA; YU, LIANQING; LANZA, MARCOS ROBERTO DE VASCONCELOS; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Solar-based photocatalytic ozonation employing novel S-scheme ZnO/Cu₂O/CuO/carbon xerogel photocatalyst: effect of pH, salinity, turbidity, and temperature on salicylic acid degradation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, v. 30, n. 43, p. 20-pg., 2023-08-22. (14/50945-4, 17/10118-0, 22/04058-2, 18/10492-1, 18/16360-0)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; CAMPOS, TIAGO MOREIRA BASTOS; THIM, GILMAR PATROCINIO; DE SIERVO, ABNER; LANZA, MARCOS ROBERTO DE VASCONCELOS; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Application of a new lignin/cellulose carbon xerogel/ZnO/Bi2O3/Bi degrees composite photocatalyst for the degradation of bisphenol-A under sunlight. CHEMICAL PHYSICS IMPACT, v. 6, p. 11-pg., 2023-02-23. (14/50945-4, 17/10118-0, 22/04058-2, 18/10492-1, 18/16360-0)

DE MORAES, NICOLAS PERCIANI; PEREIRA, RENAN AMARANTE; DA SILVA, THIAGO VIEIRA CHICUTA; DA SILVA, BRUNO HENRIQUE BAENA; DE ASSIS, GABRIELLE POLICARPO; CAMPOS, TIAGO MOREIRA BASTOS; THIM, GILMAR PATROCINIO; LANZA, MARCOS ROBERTO DE VASCONCELOS; DE FREITAS, LARISSA; RODRIGUES, LIANA ALVARES. Cross-linked cellulose beads as an eco-friendly support for ZnO/SnO2/ carbon xerogel hybrid photocatalyst: Exploring the synergy between adsorption and photocatalysis under simulated sunlight. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, v. 254, p. 13-pg., 2023-11-08. (14/50945-4, 18/16360-0, 18/10492-1, 17/10118-0, 22/04058-2)