From Anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> Nano-Cuboids to Nano-Bipyramids: Influence of Particle Shape on the TiO<sub>2</sub> Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants in Contrasted Water Matrices
Water pollution, resulting from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and pharmaceutical residues, poses serious threats to ecosystems and human health, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to effective remediation, particularly for non-biodegradable emerging pollutants. This researc...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Humaira Asghar Daphne Hermosilla Francesco Pellegrino Virginia Muelas-Ramos Christian de los Ríos Antonio Gascó Valter Maurino Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal |
| author_facet | Humaira Asghar Daphne Hermosilla Francesco Pellegrino Virginia Muelas-Ramos Christian de los Ríos Antonio Gascó Valter Maurino Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal |
| author_sort | Humaira Asghar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water pollution, resulting from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and pharmaceutical residues, poses serious threats to ecosystems and human health, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to effective remediation, particularly for non-biodegradable emerging pollutants. This research work explores the influence of shape-controlled nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub> NC), synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method, on the photodegradation efficiency of three different classes of emerging environmental pollutants: phenol, pesticides (methomyl), and drugs (sodium diclofenac). Experiments were conducted to assess the influence of the water matrix on treatment efficiency by using ultrapure water and stormwater (basic) collected from an urban drainage system as matrices. The size and shape of the nano-cuboids were accurately controlled during synthesis to assess their impact on photoactivity and selectivity. Regarding total organic carbon removal using TiO<sub>2</sub> nano-cuboids in basic environments, the results were particularly remarkable. TiO<sub>2</sub> nano-cuboids and truncated bipyramids synthesized in the 200–250 °C temperature range showed an enhanced photocatalytic efficiency when compared to alternative formulations. Diclofenac, methomyl, and phenol were fully mineralized from ultrapure water and basic stormwater. The TiO<sub>2</sub> nano-cuboids/nano-bipyramids demonstrated better selectivity and photoactivity in comparison to irregular TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. The differences in photoactivity and selectivity are explained in terms of charge carrier separation and trapping on the different crystal facets. Their performance demonstrates their potential as sustainable materials for the photodegradation of emerging pollutants in various water matrices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d249b2cd8ee5457185fe47afd0d2c375 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-d249b2cd8ee5457185fe47afd0d2c3752025-01-24T13:44:00ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-01-0130242410.3390/molecules30020424From Anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> Nano-Cuboids to Nano-Bipyramids: Influence of Particle Shape on the TiO<sub>2</sub> Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants in Contrasted Water MatricesHumaira Asghar0Daphne Hermosilla1Francesco Pellegrino2Virginia Muelas-Ramos3Christian de los Ríos4Antonio Gascó5Valter Maurino6Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal7Department of Chemistry and UNITO-ITT Joint Lab, University of Torino, Via Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, ItalyG-Aqua Research Group, Departamento de Ingeniería y Gestión Forestal y Ambiental, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/José Antonio Novais 10, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Chemistry and UNITO-ITT Joint Lab, University of Torino, Via Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, ItalyG-Aqua Research Group, Departamento de Ingeniería y Gestión Forestal y Ambiental, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/José Antonio Novais 10, 28040 Madrid, SpainG-Aqua Research Group, Departamento de Ingeniería y Gestión Forestal y Ambiental, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/José Antonio Novais 10, 28040 Madrid, SpainG-Aqua Research Group, Departamento de Ingeniería y Gestión Forestal y Ambiental, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/José Antonio Novais 10, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Chemistry and UNITO-ITT Joint Lab, University of Torino, Via Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, ItalyDepartamento de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainWater pollution, resulting from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and pharmaceutical residues, poses serious threats to ecosystems and human health, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to effective remediation, particularly for non-biodegradable emerging pollutants. This research work explores the influence of shape-controlled nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub> NC), synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method, on the photodegradation efficiency of three different classes of emerging environmental pollutants: phenol, pesticides (methomyl), and drugs (sodium diclofenac). Experiments were conducted to assess the influence of the water matrix on treatment efficiency by using ultrapure water and stormwater (basic) collected from an urban drainage system as matrices. The size and shape of the nano-cuboids were accurately controlled during synthesis to assess their impact on photoactivity and selectivity. Regarding total organic carbon removal using TiO<sub>2</sub> nano-cuboids in basic environments, the results were particularly remarkable. TiO<sub>2</sub> nano-cuboids and truncated bipyramids synthesized in the 200–250 °C temperature range showed an enhanced photocatalytic efficiency when compared to alternative formulations. Diclofenac, methomyl, and phenol were fully mineralized from ultrapure water and basic stormwater. The TiO<sub>2</sub> nano-cuboids/nano-bipyramids demonstrated better selectivity and photoactivity in comparison to irregular TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. The differences in photoactivity and selectivity are explained in terms of charge carrier separation and trapping on the different crystal facets. Their performance demonstrates their potential as sustainable materials for the photodegradation of emerging pollutants in various water matrices.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/2/424shape-controlled TiO<sub>2</sub>nano-cuboidsphotocatalysisdyesdiclofenacmethomyl |
| spellingShingle | Humaira Asghar Daphne Hermosilla Francesco Pellegrino Virginia Muelas-Ramos Christian de los Ríos Antonio Gascó Valter Maurino Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal From Anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> Nano-Cuboids to Nano-Bipyramids: Influence of Particle Shape on the TiO<sub>2</sub> Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants in Contrasted Water Matrices Molecules shape-controlled TiO<sub>2</sub> nano-cuboids photocatalysis dyes diclofenac methomyl |
| title | From Anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> Nano-Cuboids to Nano-Bipyramids: Influence of Particle Shape on the TiO<sub>2</sub> Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants in Contrasted Water Matrices |
| title_full | From Anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> Nano-Cuboids to Nano-Bipyramids: Influence of Particle Shape on the TiO<sub>2</sub> Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants in Contrasted Water Matrices |
| title_fullStr | From Anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> Nano-Cuboids to Nano-Bipyramids: Influence of Particle Shape on the TiO<sub>2</sub> Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants in Contrasted Water Matrices |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> Nano-Cuboids to Nano-Bipyramids: Influence of Particle Shape on the TiO<sub>2</sub> Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants in Contrasted Water Matrices |
| title_short | From Anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> Nano-Cuboids to Nano-Bipyramids: Influence of Particle Shape on the TiO<sub>2</sub> Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants in Contrasted Water Matrices |
| title_sort | from anatase tio sub 2 sub nano cuboids to nano bipyramids influence of particle shape on the tio sub 2 sub photocatalytic degradation of emerging contaminants in contrasted water matrices |
| topic | shape-controlled TiO<sub>2</sub> nano-cuboids photocatalysis dyes diclofenac methomyl |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/2/424 |
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