Obtaining Mo-modified FeWO4 for environmental remediation of emerging contaminants by solar photocatalysis.

• Grant number: 23/17483-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Ailton Jose Moreira
• Grantee: Juliana Bruzaca Lima
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/06219-3 - Developing and disseminating new technologies for environmental remediation of emerging contaminants, AP.GR

Abstract

In this project, we will use what we call the "MW_UV_Vis radiation-assisted hydrothermal" method (MW = Microwave, UV = Ultraviolet and Vis = Visible) to synthesize FeWO4 nanoparticles doped with Mox+. The synergistic use of MW_UV_Vis radiation in hydrothermal conditions will promote the generation of different excited states of the precursor ions (Fe, Mo and W) to form crystalline structures with point defects, which will be modulated by the chemical composition and physical parameters such as temperature, UV_Vis light intensity, microwave power and synthesis time. The chemical composition of the photocatalyst was chosen after a broad search of the literature showed no data related to this composition, and Fe, Mo and W are elements present in numerous enzymes that promote the efficient absorption of visible light to promote various photocatalytic reactions in environmental ecosystems. The materials will be obtained in powder form, attached to glass substrates (tubes or porous beads) and/or ceramic/zeolite foams based on aluminosilicates by the coating method and applied to solar reactors for the degradation of emerging contaminants in surface water or domestic effluents. The operating parameters of the biological and physical-chemical treatment stages will be optimized to remove non-recalcitrant organic matter, allowing the solar photocatalysis stage to be more targeted at removing emerging contaminants. Finally, the main pollutant and the degradation products will be monitored using analytical techniques such as chromatography. In this way, efficiency calculations, the identification of organic compounds and degradation mechanisms will be achieved.