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Sacrificial photocatalysis: removal of nitrate and hydrogen production by nano-copper-loaded P25 titania. A kinetic and ecotoxicological assessment.
- Source :
- Environmental Science & Pollution Research; Feb2017, Vol. 24 Issue 6, p5898-5907, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- The photocatalytic removal of nitrate with simultaneous hydrogen generation was demonstrated using zero-valent nano-copper-modified titania (P25) as photocatalyst in the presence of UV-A-Vis radiation. Glycerol, a by-product in biodiesel production, was chosen as a hole scavenger. Under the adopted experimental conditions, a nitrate removal efficiency up to 100% and a simultaneous hydrogen production up to 14 μmol/L of H were achieved (catalyst load = 150 mg/L, initial concentration of nitrate = 50 mg/L, initial concentration of glycerol = 0.8 mol/L). The reaction rates were independent of the starting glycerol concentration. This process allows accomplishing nitrate removal, with the additional benefit of producing hydrogen under artificial UV-A radiation. A kinetic model was also developed and it may represent a benchmark for a detailed understanding of the process kinetics. A set of acute and chronic bioassays ( Vibrio fischeri, Raphidocelis subcapitata, and Daphnia magna) was performed to evaluate the potential ecotoxicity of the nitrate/by-product mixture formed during the photocatalytic process. The ecotoxicological assessment indicated an ecotoxic effect of oxidation intermediates and by-products produced during the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- NITRATES
HYDROGEN production
PHOTOCATALYSIS
GLYCERIN
BIODIESEL fuels
DYNAMICS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09441344
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Environmental Science & Pollution Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 121840408
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8299-0