Synthesis and characterization of TiO2 films onto AISI 304 metallic meshes and their application in the decomposition of the endocrine-disrupting alkylphenolic chemicals

This contribution describes the influence of the ratio of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), TiO 2 and wire opening of metal meshes for the construction of a structured catalyst with a uniform coating, that present high adherence and photocatalytic activity. The best coating results were observed for a PVA/TiO 2 mass ratio of 0.37 and mesh opening of 546 µm. This coating exhibited a uniform distribution, high adherence and the maintenance of anatase and rutile phases. These aspects can be related to three variables: (i) the structure of the stainless-steel metal mesh, (ii) the thermal pretreatment and (iii) the amount of organic additive (PVA/TiO 2 ratio) employed in the suspensions. The most important achievement of this work was the fabrication of a structured catalyst with excellent stability, without losing activity for the degradation of endocrine-disrupting nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP 4 EO) in synthetic solution, without poisoning of the catalytic surface. In fact, the results showed that even with a real wastewater matrix, a high photocatalytic activity for NP 4 EO degradation (91%) was obtained, meaning that this structured catalyst can be applied to solve serious environmental problems as the contamination by endocrine-disrupting NP 4 EO, without subsequent catalyst recovery and recycle steps. Fil: de Moraes Da Trindade, Carolina. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: da Silva, S.W.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Bortolozzi, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera". Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera"; Argentina Fil: Banus, Ezequiel David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera". Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera"; Argentina Fil: Bernardes, Andrea Moura. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Ulla, Maria Alicia del H.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera". Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera"; Argentina