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Adsorptive removal and photocatalytic decomposition of sulfamethazine in secondary effluent using TiO2–zeolite composites

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Abstract

We investigated the adsorption and decomposition of sulfamethazine (SMT), which is used as a synthetic antibacterial agent and discharged into environmental water, using high-silica Y-type zeolite (HSZ-385), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and TiO2–zeolite composites. By using ultrapure water and secondary effluent as solvents, we prepared SMT solutions (10 μg/L and 10 mg/L) and used them for adsorption and photocatalytic decomposition experiments. When HSZ-385 was used as an adsorbent, rapid adsorption of SMT in the secondary effluent was confirmed, and the adsorption reached equilibrium within 10 min. The photocatalytic decomposition rate using TiO2 in the secondary effluent was lower than that in ultrapure water, and we clarified the inhibitory effect of ions and organic matter contained in the secondary effluent on the reaction. We synthesized TiO2–zeolite composites and applied them to the removal of SMT. During the treatment of 10 μg/L SMT in the secondary effluent using the composites, 76 % and more than 99 % of the SMT were decomposed within 2 and 4 h by photocatalysis. The SMT was selectively adsorbed onto high-silica Y-type zeolite in the composites. Resultantly, the inhibitory effect of the coexisting materials was reduced, and the composites could remove SMT more effectively compared with TiO2 alone in the secondary effluent.

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Abbreviations

C :

Concentration of sulfamethazine in the aqueous phase (in milligram per liter)

C′ :

Concentration of sulfamethazine after desorption (in milligram per liter)

C 0 :

Initial concentration of sulfamethazine (in milligram per liter)

C e :

Equilibrium concentration of the sulfamethazine (in mole per liter)

K L :

Langmuir constant (in liter per mole)

M a :

Amount of sulfamethazine removed through adsorption (in milligram)

M p :

Amount of sulfamethazine removed through photocatalysis (in milligram)

M a+p :

Amount of sulfamethazine removed through adsorption and photocatalysis (in milligram)

k a :

Pseudo-second-order rate constant of adsorption (in gram per mole per minute)

k p :

Pseudo-first-order rate constant of photodegradation (1 per minute)

q e :

Amount of sulfamethazine adsorbed onto zeolite or TiO2–zeolite composites after reaching equilibrium (in mole per gram)

q m :

Maximum adsorption capacity (in mole per gram)

q t :

Amount of sulfamethazine adsorbed onto zeolite or TiO2–zeolite composites at t (in mole per gram)

t 1/2 :

Time required to adsorb half the amount of q e (in minute)

V :

Volume of the sulfamethazine solution (in liter)

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 23656332.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Kochi University, 200 Monobe Otsu, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8502, Japan

    Misaki Ito

  2. New Paper Industry Program Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University, 127 Mendoricho Otsu, Shikokuchuo, Ehime, 799-0113, Japan

    Shuji Fukahori

  3. Research and Education Faculty, National Sciences Cluster, Agriculture Unit, Kochi University, 200 Monobe Otsu, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8502, Japan

    Taku Fujiwara

Authors
  1. Misaki Ito
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  2. Shuji Fukahori
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  3. Taku Fujiwara
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Correspondence to Taku Fujiwara.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Ito, M., Fukahori, S. & Fujiwara, T. Adsorptive removal and photocatalytic decomposition of sulfamethazine in secondary effluent using TiO2–zeolite composites. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 834–842 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1707-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1707-9

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