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Remediating Nitrate Contamination in Al-Arbaeen Lagoon: Evaluating the Efficacy of CNT/TiO2 Photocatalyst

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Abstract

The distribution pattern of nitrate in Al-Arbaeen lagoon is a matter of concern due to its elevated levels, which pose significant risks to the environment and human health. This particular research aims to address the issue by exploring the remediation potential of a photocatalyst composed of multiwalled carbon nanotube-modified titanium dioxide (CNT/TiO2). The study focuses on assessing the efficiency of this photocatalytic process in degrading nitrate and reducing its concentration in water samples collected from Al-Arbaeen lagoon. By modifying TiO2 with carbon, the photocatalyst's activity is enhanced, enabling efficient degradation of nitrate under sunlight and expanding its absorption range to visible light. A batch reactor equipped with the carbon-modified TiO2 catalyst is employed, and changes in nitrate concentration over time are analyzed. The carbon-modified TiO2 photocatalyst effectively decreases the concentration of nitrate in the water samples. As a result, the photocatalytic process facilitates the conversion of nitrate into harmless byproducts, ultimately enhancing the overall water quality. The researchers conducted various characterizations of the prepared photocatalyst using SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, and UV–Vis spectrophotometer. Various factors, including the amount of catalyst used, the initial concentration of nitrate, and the duration of the reaction, were observed to affect the efficiency of degradation. The study also investigates the kinetics and mechanism of the photocatalytic process, shedding light on the degradation pathway of nitrate and the role of carbon modification in improving the photocatalyst's performance. Under optimized conditions, the photocatalytic process achieved 100% removal efficiency of nitrate from the polluted water.

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The current study doesn’t have any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Chemistry Department, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80207, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Saeed Saad Alelyani, Yasar N. Kavil, Radwan Kh Al-Farawati, Mousa Zobidi & Yasser A. Shaban

  2. Renewable Environment Company for Environmental Consulting (REC), 22261, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Saeed Saad Alelyani & Yasar N. Kavil

  3. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O Box 80200-Jeddah, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed Abdel Salam

  4. National Institute of Oceanography & Fisheries, Qayet Bay, Alexandria, Egypt

    Yasser A. Shaban

Authors
  1. Saeed Saad Alelyani
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  2. Yasar N. Kavil
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  3. Radwan Kh Al-Farawati
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  4. Mousa Zobidi
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  6. Yasser A. Shaban
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Contributions

Saeed Saad Alelyani: Experimental analysis, original manuscript draft preparation and reviewing the manuscript.

Yasar N Kavil: Experimental analysis, original manuscript draft preparation and reviewing the manuscript.

Radwan Kh Al-Farawati: Experimental design and reviewing the manuscript.

Mousa Zobidi: Experimental analysis and reviewing the manuscript.

Mohamed Abdel Salam: Characterization and reviewing the manuscript.

Yasser A Shaban: Conceptualization, original manuscript draft preparation and reviewing the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yasser A. Shaban.

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Alelyani, S.S., Kavil, Y.N., Al-Farawati, R.K. et al. Remediating Nitrate Contamination in Al-Arbaeen Lagoon: Evaluating the Efficacy of CNT/TiO2 Photocatalyst. Water Air Soil Pollut 235, 177 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-06980-2

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