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Adsorption and degradation of some psychiatric drugs by sol-gel synthesized titania-based photocatalysts: influence of tungsten and sodium content

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials for catalytic, photoelectrochemical and sensor applications
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Abstract

Mesoporous anatase nanopowders were doped with 0.05−0.5 mol% of W6+, in order to obtain more efficient photocatalyst than TiO2 Degussa P25 in the degradation of amitriptyline (AMI) under simulated solar irradiation (SSI). Dominant XRPD peaks were ascribed to anatase phase, with additional peaks which could correspond to brookite, TiO2 bronze and sodium titanate, Na2Ti9O19. The Raman scattering measurements have confirmed anatase as dominant phase, with broad Raman feature at ~270 cm−1 possibly related to Ti–O–Na stretching vibration. All W-doped nanopowders have shown enhanced adsorption and higher efficiency in photodegradation of AMI in comparison to TiO2 Degussa P25 under the same conditions. The catalyst doped with 0.4 mol% of W6+, which has shown the highest efficiency in degradation of AMI under SSI, has also been tested in degradation of alprazolam (ALP). The effect of substrate type (AMI and ALP), catalyst loading, and initial substrate concentration on photocatalytic degradation using SSI was examined. The identification of the species responsible for the photocatalytic degradation of AMI and ALP by the catalyst doped with 0.4 mol% of W6+ was performed in the presence of various scavengers under SSI. The major role in degradation of AMI may be attributed to hydroxyl radicals, whereas superoxide anion radicals, singlet molecular oxygen and hydroxyl radicals contribute to degradation of ALP.

Highlights

  • Influence of W and Na content on the properties of TiO2 catalysts synthesized by sol-gel method.

  • Powders characterized by XRPD, SEM, EDS, BET, Raman, and UV-vis spectroscopy.

  • Adsorption and photodegradation of amitriptyline and alprazolam under simulated solar irradiation.

  • Optimal synthesis and W-doping conditions for photocatalytic degradation of amitriptyline found.

  • Various scavengers used to identify mechanisms of photodegradation of amitriptyline and alprazolam.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development (Republic of Serbia), under the Projects No. III45018, ON172042, and III45015, as well as SASA project F–134. Besides, authors thank MSc Maria Uzelac and MSc Marta Kolesar for the technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, Trg D. Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Nina L. Finčur & Biljana F. Abramović

  2. Center for Solid State Physics and New Materials, Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080, Belgrade, Serbia

    Maja J. Šćepanović, Mirjana Grujić-Brojčin & Aleksandar Golubović

  3. Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Catalysis and Chemical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Njegoševa 12, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Jugoslav B. Krstić

  4. Laboratory of Crystallography, Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Đušina 7, 11001, Belgrade, Serbia

    Aleksandar Kremenović

  5. Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030, Belgrade, Serbia

    Tatjana Srećković

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  1. Nina L. Finčur
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  2. Maja J. Šćepanović
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Finčur, N.L., Šćepanović, M.J., Grujić-Brojčin, M. et al. Adsorption and degradation of some psychiatric drugs by sol-gel synthesized titania-based photocatalysts: influence of tungsten and sodium content. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 90, 510–524 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-019-04925-4

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