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Performance of photocatalytic ozonation process for pentachlorophenol (PCP) removal in aqueous solution using graphene-TiO2 nanocomposite (UV/G-TiO2/O3)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of photocatalytic ozonation process using graphene-dioxide titanium nanocomposite in removing Pentachlorophenol (PCP) from aqueous solutions. In this study, nanocomposites with graphene to TiO2(G/T) ratios of 1:10 and 1:20 were synthesized by hydrothermal method, and its characteristics were assessed using various analyses, SEM, XRD, FTIR, TEM, BET and TGA. In this process, the effects of parameters including O3 concentration (0.25–1.25 mg/L), nanocomposite concentration (50–500 mg/L), initial PCP concentration (10–100 mg/L), and time (10–60 min), were studied. The results showed that PCP removal efficiency was increased by decreasing solute concentration. Increasing nanocomposite dose to 100 mg/L was led to an increase in efficiency (99.1%), but then a decreasing trend was observed. Increasing the concentration of ozone, up to specific value, also enhanced the efficiency but then had a negative effect on process efficiency. Furthermore, the optimum ratio of the catalyst was determined to be 1:20. The highest efficiency of the process for initial pentachlorophenol concentration of 100 mg/L was obtained 98.82% in optimum conditions (catalyst dose of 100 mg/L and 60 min). It is concluded that the photocatalytic ozonation process using graphene-dioxide titanium nanocomposite had the highest efficiency in removal and mineralization of PCP.

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Acknowledgements

This article has extracted from the MSc thesis of Maryam Yousefi, the student of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The code of Research Ethics is IR.MAZUMS.REC.1394.1668. The authors appreciate the deputy of Research and Technology of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences for the financial support of this project. Also, the authors would like to appreciate Dr. Behrouz Akbari-Adergani for his aids in synthesis of studied nanocomposite.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

    Mohammad Ali Zazouli

  2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Science, Sari, Iran

    Maryam Yousefi

  3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Abadan Faculty of Medical Siences, Abadan, Iran

    Farshid Ghanbari

  4. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

    Esmaeil Babanezhad

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  1. Mohammad Ali Zazouli
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  2. Maryam Yousefi
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  4. Esmaeil Babanezhad
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Correspondence to Maryam Yousefi.

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Zazouli, M.A., Yousefi, M., Ghanbari, F. et al. Performance of photocatalytic ozonation process for pentachlorophenol (PCP) removal in aqueous solution using graphene-TiO2 nanocomposite (UV/G-TiO2/O3). J Environ Health Sci Engineer 18, 1083–1097 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-020-00529-1

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