Hybrid heterogeneous photocatalysis/electro-peroxone advanced oxidation process for the efficient degradation of the sulfamerazine antibiotic in aqueous medium

• Grant number: 24/06648-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Grantee: Nicolas Perciani de Moraes
• Supervisor: Manuel Andres Rodrigo Rodrigo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real (UCLM), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/04058-2 - Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of pollutants (bisphenol-A, sulfamerazine, and 2,4-D) using H2O2 electrogenerated in carbonaceous matrices obtained from sustainable sources, BP.PD

Abstract

The development of highly effective remediation processes for antibiotic-contaminated water bodies can be seen as a topic of worldwide relevance. In this context, the study and optimization of a hybrid heterogeneous photocatalysis/electro-peroxone process is a novel and promising strategy. The combination of these processes is based on their synergy for the enhanced production of hydroxyl radicals (OH*), which are highly reactive and non-selective oxidants capable of degrading a wide range of organic pollutants in aqueous environments. Aiming at the efficient and sustainable electrogeneration of H2O2 during the proposed process, the development of gas diffusion electrodes based on renewable carbon sources (such as lignin, tannin, and cellulose) is an unexplored and highly promising topic, especially in the context of eco-friendly and functional materials. Additionally, the application of multicomponent photocatalysts based on the creation of double S-scheme heterojunctions between semiconductors is reportedly a state-of-the-art tactic to enhance the efficiency of the heterogeneous photocatalysis process. Finally, the generation of ozone using specialized electrolyzers is an appealing alternative in this scenario, as it resolves the major challenges associated with conventional methods, such as mass transfer limitations and current efficiency. Thus, this proposal aims at the development of the hybrid heterogeneous photocatalysis/electro-peroxone process for the degradation of the antibiotic known as sulfamerazine, employing sustainable GDEs and multicomponent photocatalysts (TiO2/KNbO3/g-C3N4). Several processing parameters will be optimized to achieve a highly effective process, such as current intensity for the electrogeneration of H2O2 and O3, type of electrolyte, temperature, type of light irradiation, and catalyst dosage. The efficiency of the proposed sulfamerazine degradation process will be evaluated using the techniques of high-performance liquid chromatography, total organic carbon content, and mass spectrometry.