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Photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants using zinc oxide supported by mesoporous silica

  • Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles, fibers, colloids, composites, etc.)
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Abstract

The preparation of mesoporous silica supported zinc oxide photocatalyst (MS/ZnO) was carried out using the direct and indirect approaches (impregnation) in solvent media and grinding approach (mechanochemical) in a solvent-free media. This showed the dissemination of zinc oxide nanoparticles over mesoporous substrates that associated with the formation of a secondary phase of ZnO crystallites on the mesoporous materials. Consequently, a noticeable reduction of the total surface areas, pore volume and average pore size of mesoporous materials was affirmed due to a combination of ZnO nanoparticles, which entirely investigated via the N2 adsorption and desorption isotherms. In this respect, the efficiency of the photocatalysts was recognized using the photo-degradation reaction of Ibuprofen (IBP) as an assigned model of contaminant. Interestingly, the prepared photocatalysts using grinding approach (the mechanochemical approach, the focus of this research) sustained the best photocatalytic efficacy compared to the old-style wetness impregnation approach. This is also commensurate with a complete dispersion of ZnO on mesoporous material in a solvent-free media. Overall, the recent research has confirmed the merits and flexibility of the grinding approach in the preparation of MS/ZnO photocatalyst that incorporated with an efficient removal of solvent.

Highlights

  • Efficiency increases due to the dispersion effect of catalyst supported silica.

  • No direct relation and clear impact of pore system and the activity scatter.

  • Preparation procedure has obviously strengthened the catalytic performance.

  • Low content of active component cannot prepare homogeneous mixture of catalytic component with support.

  • 30% of ZnO/MCM-41-S attains 83.6% degradation at 20% mineralization of TOC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Pure Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq

    Mishal W. Ibrahim

  2. Technical Institute of Baquba, Middle Technical University, Baquba, Dayala, Iraq

    Mudhar A. Al-Obaidi

  3. Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Hendrik Kosslick & Axel Schulz

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  1. Mishal W. Ibrahim
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  2. Mudhar A. Al-Obaidi
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  3. Hendrik Kosslick
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  4. Axel Schulz
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Correspondence to Mudhar A. Al-Obaidi.

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Ibrahim, M.W., Al-Obaidi, M.A., Kosslick, H. et al. Photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants using zinc oxide supported by mesoporous silica. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 98, 300–309 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-021-05507-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-021-05507-z

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