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Nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO2) nanoparticles were prepared using a modified sol-gel method. The as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized by state-of-the-art techniques for their optical, structural and morphological properties. The crystallite size, surface area and bandgap energy of reference TiO2and N-TiO2nanoparticles were found to be 16.1 and 10.9 nm, 83.6 and 131.8 m2g−1and 3.23 and 2.89 eV, respectively. The photocatalytic activities, in terms of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) degradation, of reference TiO2and N-TiO2were found to be 46.9% and 65.4% at 120 min of treatments under UV light irradiation and 21.5% and 77.6% at 240 min of treatment under visible light irradiation, employing 153.4 µM 2,4-DCP, 1 g/L photocatalyst dosage, and pH 5.6. Interestingly, considerable H2production rate (i.e., 386 μmol h−1g−1) was observed for visible/N-TiO2system in presence of 0.2 wt% Pt. The study revealed that visible/N-TiO2photocatalytic system can be used as an economically viable technology for environmental sustainability.

Extensive research has been conducted on controlling carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions in recent years with increasing environmental awareness. The primary contributor to climate change is the exponentially growing anthropogenic CO2, NOx,and SOxin the air from various energy and industrial sectors. Hence, several pre-combustion and post-combustion processes to mitigate these gases have been introduced and implemented. Despite the benefits of CO2, SOx, and NOxabatement technologies, researchers still have major challenges to deal with. While the removal efficiencies, operational costs, and resulting byproducts of conventional removal technologies are being improved, new technologies are also emerging. As it is evident from the current abundant reserves of coal that it will continue to be in a significant position among the principal sources of energy for more than a decade, the research for the reduction of CO2, NOx,and SOxis inevitable to save future generations from the harmful impacts of these pollutants. This review paper summarizes the progress of different emission control technologies at the plant level and introduces emerging technologies that are environment friendly.