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Appl Catal B 2020 Oct;275

Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (ChEE), University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0012, United States.

The current study investigates a novel redox technology based on synthetic franklinite-like zinc-ferrite nanomaterial with magnetic properties and redox nature for potential use in water treatment. Physicochemical characterization revealed the nanoscale size and ABO spinel configuration of the zinc-ferrite nanomaterial. The redox activity of nanoparticles was tested for degradation of diclofenac (DCF) pharmaceutical in water, without any added external oxidants and under dark experimental conditions. Read More

Appl Catal B 2019 Jul 11;248:157-166. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, USA.

Carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized by a microwave-mediated method and separated by size exclusion chromatography into three different size fractions. There was no correlation of the size with photoluminescence (PL) emission wavelength, which shows that the PL mechanism is not quantum-size dependent. UV/vis absorption and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies showed that the light absorption properties as well as the band gap of the CDs changed with the size of the particle. Read More

Appl Catal B 2020 Aug 9;270:118853. Epub 2020 Mar 9.

Photocatalysis International Research Center, Research Institute for Science & Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.

The approach of this timely review considers the current literature that is focused on the interface nanostructure/cell-wall microorganism to understand the annihilation mechanism. Morphological studies use optical and electronic microscopes to determine the physical damage on the cell-wall and the possible cell lysis that confirms the viability and microorganism death. The key parameters of the tailoring the surface of the photoactive nanostructures such as the metal functionalization with bacteriostatic properties, hydrophilicity, textural porosity, morphology and the formation of heterojunction systems, can achieve the effective eradication of the microorganisms under natural conditions, ranging from practical to applications in environment, agriculture, and so on. Read More

Appl Catal B 2019 Apr;243:629-640

Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.

In this work, it is proposed an environmental friendly sonophotocatalytic approach to efficiently treat polluted waters from industrial dyes exploiting ZnO micro- and nano-materials. For the first time, we deeply investigated the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under ultrasound stimulation of different ZnO structures by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (EPR). Indeed, five zinc oxide (ZnO) micro- and nano-structures, Desert Roses (DRs), Multipods (MPs), Microwires (MWs), Nanoparticles (NPs) and Nanowires (NWs), were studied for the Rhodamine B (RhB) sonodegradation under ultrasonic irradiation. Read More

Appl Catal B 2018 Dec;237:574-587

Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University, N21, W8, 001-0021, Sapporo, Japan.

Octahedral anatase particles (OAP, with eight equivalent {101} facets) and decahedral anatase particles (DAP, with two additional {001} facets) were modified with nanoparticles of noble metals (Au, Ag, Cu). The titania morphology, expressed by the presence of different arrangements of exposed crystal facets, played a key role in the photocatalytic properties of metal-modified faceted titania. In the UV/vis systems, two-faceted configuration of DAP was more favorable for the reaction efficiency than single-faceted OAP because of an efficient charge separation described by the transfer of electrons to {101} facets and holes to {001} facets. Read More

Appl Catal B 2017 Nov 19;216:122-132. Epub 2017 May 19.

Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

Only limited research has examined the development and application of visible light responsive photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), although such materials have great potential for mitigating concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when applied to building surfaces. This study evaluates the performance and characteristics of a visible light responsive photocatalyst, specially, a co-alloyed TiNbON compound with a band energy of 2.3 eV. Read More

Appl Catal B 2018 Jun;225:91-99

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina, 300 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.

Reduced graphene oxide hybridized with zero-valent silver and magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) (rGO-Ag/FeO nanohybrids) prepared via nucleation and crystallization was used to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) for degradation of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds (phenol, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, bisphenol A, 17β-estradiol, and 17α-ethinyl estradiol). The deposition of Ag and FeO in rGO nanosheet enhanced the catalytic removal of phenol in the heterogeneous activation of PDS. The adsorption capacities of rGO-Ag/FeO for 10 μM phenol were 1. Read More

Appl Catal B 2017 Apr 13;203:199-209. Epub 2016 Oct 13.

Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.

To eliminate nitrogen oxides (NO), a series of highly ordered mesoporous WO(χ)-CeO nanomaterials (χ represents the mole ratio of W/Ce) were synthesized by using KIT-6 as a hard template, which was used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to remove NO with NH at low temperatures. Moreover, the nanomaterials were characterized by TEM, XRD, Raman, XPS, BET, H-TPR, NH-TPD and DRIFTS. It can be found that all of the prepared mesoporous WO(χ)-CeO (χ = 0, 0. Read More

Appl Catal B 2017 Jun;206:393-405

Institute for Catalysis, Hokkaido University, N21 W10, 001-0021 Sapporo, Japan.

Octahedral anatase particles (OAPs), prepared by ultrasonication-hydrothermal reaction (US-HT), were modified with 2 wt% of gold by photodeposition. Conditions of US-HT process such as durations of US and durations of HT were varied to obtain OAPs products different by physicochemical and morphological properties. Au/OAPs samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Read More

Appl Catal B 2017 May;205:24-33

Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Center for Micro-Engineered Materials (CMEM), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.

Different iron-based cathode catalysts have been studied for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in neutral media and then applied into microbial fuel cells (MFC). The catalysts have been synthesized using sacrificial support method (SSM) using eight different organic precursors named Niclosamide, Ricobendazole, Guanosine, Succinylsulfathiazole, Sulfacetamide, Quinine, Sulfadiazine and Pyrazinamide. Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV) curves were obtained for the catalysts using a O saturated in 0. Read More

Appl Catal B 2016 Jun;187:357-366

Department of Chemistry, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA.

Herein, we present a novel acid-less synthetic approach for polymerization of aniline synchronized with reduction of graphene oxide to graphene. This method provides uniform deposition of ordered polyaniline nanotubes over the surface of graphene nanosheets. The synthesized graphene-polyaniline nanocomposite has the ability of complete removal of harmful dyes commonly used in industry: such as methyl orange, methylene blue, and rhoadmine B from the waste water under the exposure to natural sunlight. Read More

Appl Catal B 2015 Jul;170-171:162-172

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.

Palladium catalysts offer the potential for the effective treatment of a variety of priority reducible pollutants in natural waters. In this study, microbially synthesized magnetite nanoparticles were functionalized with Pd(0), creating a highly reactive, magnetically recoverable, nano-scale catalyst (Pd-BnM). This was then investigated for the treatment of model Cr(VI) contaminated solutions at a range of pH values, and also alkaline Cr(VI) contaminated leachates from chromite ore processing residue (COPR); a contaminant issue of global concern. Read More

Appl Catal B 2015 Sep;174-175:427-434

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, 400 Snell Engineering, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States.

The electrode sequence in a mixed flow-through electrochemical cell is evaluated to improve the hydrodechlorination (HDC) of trichloroethylene (TCE) in aqueous solutions. In a mixed (undivided) electrochemical cell, oxygen generated at the anode competes with the transformation of target contaminants at the cathode. In this study, we evaluate the effect of placing the anode downstream from the cathode and using multiple electrodes to promote TCE reduction. Read More

Appl Catal B 2014 Apr 1;148:568-572. Epub 2013 Dec 1.

Center for Environment, Health and Welfare Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.

A bacterial target-specific titanium oxide (TiO) photocatalyst was developed for the enhancement of selective inactivation of targeted bacteria. An antibacterial composition comprising TiO particles immobilized with a bacterial-specific antibody having affinity to bacteria of interest was prepared via a carbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (EDC/NHS) coupling reaction between polyacrylic acid (PAA) coated TiO and an antibody. As a model case, an antibody to was conjugated with the PAA-coated TiO (TiO-Ab). Read More

Appl Catal B 2013 Jan 17;129:56-61. Epub 2012 Sep 17.

Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology, KSP Bldg. West 6F, 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan.

We investigated the antiviral activity of TiO-coated cordierite foam used in air cleaners, as well as the evaluation methodology. Furthermore, we developed Cu/TiO-coated cordierite foam and investigated the reduction in viral infection ratio. The method for evaluation of antibacterial activity of TiO-coated cordierite foam could also be applied to evaluation of antiviral activity. Read More

Appl Catal B 2012 Sep;126:258-264

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720.

Under pH 7 - 10 conditions, the mesoporous silica supports proposed for use in water treatment are relatively unstable. In batch experiments conducted in pH 7 solutions, the commonly used support SBA-15 dissolved quickly, releasing approximately 30 mg/L of dissolved silica after 2 hours. In column experiments, more than 45% of an initial mass of 0. Read More

Appl Catal B 2012 Feb;113-114:160-171

Particle Technology Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland ; Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Hönggerberg, HCI, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.

Mono- and bimetallic Rh and Pt based NO storage-reduction (NSR) catalysts, where the noble metals were deposited on the AlO support or BaCO storage component, have been prepared using a twin flame spray pyrolysis setup. The catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, CO chemisorption combined with diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The NSR performance of the catalysts was investigated by fuel lean/rich cycling in the absence and presence of SO (25 ppm) as well as after H desulfation at 750 °C. Read More

Appl Catal B 2011 Oct;110:99-107

Department of Chemistry, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA.

Two novel ternary nanocatalysts, f-MWCNTs-CdS and f-MWCNTs-Ag(2)S were successfully constructed by covalent grafting of fourth generation (G4) hyperbranched, crosslinked poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) to carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH) and subsequent deposition of CdS or Ag(2)S quantum dots (QDs). The structural transformation, surface potential, and morphology of functionalized MWCNTs (f-MWCNTs) and nanocatalysts were characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy reveals the effective anchoring of QDs on f-MWCNTs. Read More

Appl Catal B 2011 Aug 23;106(3):592-599. Epub 2011 Jun 23.

Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0004, Japan.

A novel titanium dioxide-coated cordierite foam (TiO/cordierite foam) was developed for use in air cleaners. By a simple impregnation procedure, TiO nanoparticles were immobilized firmly onto the surface of a cordierite foam substrate through high-temperature (500 °C) calcination. The strong bactericidal performance of the fabricated foam was evaluated by a newly developed test method for complex three-dimensional through-pore structures. Read More

Appl Catal B 2009 May;88(3-4):576-581

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.

Composite photocatalysts of palladium oxide and nitrogen-doped titanium oxide (PdO/TiON) were synthesized by a solgel process, as convenient forms of nanopowder or immobilized powder on nanofiber. The PdO/TiON catalysts were tested for visible-light-activated photocatalysis using different bacterial indicators, including gram-negative cells of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and gram-positive cells of Staphylococcus aureus. Disinfection data indicated that PdO/TiON composite photocatalysts have a much better photocatalytic activity than either palladium-doped (PdO/TiO(2)) or nitrogen-doped titanium oxide (TiON) under visible-light illumination. Read More

Appl Catal B 2008 Feb;79(1):43-52

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.

The validity of a new method to destroy gas-phase perchloroethylene (PCE) is demonstrated at bench scale using a fixed-bed reactor that contains a Pt/Rh catalyst. Hydrogen and oxygen were simultaneously fed to the reactor together with PCE. The conversion efficiencies of PCE were sensitive to H(2)/O(2) ratio and reactor temperature. Read More