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Toxics
Special Issues
Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants
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Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Contaminants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2024 | Viewed by 7267

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jiao Qu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
Interests: advanced oxidation processes; photocatalysis; electrocatalysis; environmental photochemistry; environmental toxicology
Dr. Dongyang He

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, China
Interests: environmental chemistry; advanced oxidation processes; photocatalysis; heterojunction; water disinfection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), endocrine disrupters (EDCs), pesticides, etc. have been the subject of extensive attention due to their widespread occurrence in surface water, ground water, and drinking water. The residues of these compounds, with largely unknown chronic effects, may easily result in severe problems to humans and the environment. Photocatalysis has been considered a promising approach for removing these ECs in water. Unfortunately, the activities of many reported photocatalysts are still far from meeting the requirements of industrial applications, and thus the development of high-performance catalysts that can efficiently degrade ECs is highly desired. In addition, the generated byproducts during the photocatalytic process may be more toxic than parent contaminant itself. Therefore, studies evaluating the toxicities of the intermediates should be carried out.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue entitled "Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants", which aims to collect and highlight all the advancements that scientific research is making in this sector.

A non-exhaustive list of potential research areas can be found below:

  • Photocatalytic elimination of ECs, such as PPCPs, EDCs, pesticides, and so on;
  • New photocatalytic mechanisms for eliminating ECs;
  • Scientific aspects of photocatalytic processes and basic understanding of photocatalysts as applied for removing ECs;
  • Toxicological assessment of intermediates during photocatalytic degradation of ECs.

Prof. Dr. Jiao Qu
Dr. Dongyang He
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • photocatalysis
  • photocatalytic coupling technologies
  • emerging contaminants
  • degradation mechanism
  • environmental application
  • toxicological assessment

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 6497 KiB  
Article
Biogenic Punica granatum Flower Extract Assisted ZnFe2O4 and ZnFe2O4-Cu Composites for Excellent Photocatalytic Degradation of RhB Dye
by Amal Alshehri, Laila Alharbi, Aiyaz Ahmad Wani and Maqsood Ahmad Malik
Toxics 2024, 12(1), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12010077 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1189
Abstract
Globally, the textile industry contributes to pollution through accidental discharges or discharge of contaminated wastewater into waterways, significantly affecting water quality. These pollutants, including dye molecules, are environmental hazards for aquatic and terrestrial life. The field of visible light-mediated photocatalysis has experienced rapid [...] Read more.
Globally, the textile industry contributes to pollution through accidental discharges or discharge of contaminated wastewater into waterways, significantly affecting water quality. These pollutants, including dye molecules, are environmental hazards for aquatic and terrestrial life. The field of visible light-mediated photocatalysis has experienced rapid growth, driven by the utilization of photocatalysts that can absorb low-energy visible light and effectively degrade dyes. In the present study, we report a simple method to controllably synthesize Fe2O3, ZnO, and ZnFe2O4 using the one-pot synthesis method. In the subsequent step, copper (Cu) was deposited on the surface of ZnFe2O4 (forming ZnFe2O4-Cu) using a facile, green, and cost-effective method. The synthesized samples were characterized using various techniques, including XRD, UV-Vis DRS, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, HR-TEM, XPS, PL, and BET analysis. These techniques were employed to investigate the composition, morphology, structure, and photophysical properties of as-prepared samples. The ZnFe2O4-Cu nanocomposite demonstrated efficient photocatalytic activity for degrading RhB dye pollutants under visible light. The photocatalyst was successfully reused for three consecutive cycles without significantly decreasing performance. Furthermore, during the study, the radical scavenging test emphasized the role of different radicals in the degradation of dye pollutants. This research has the potential to enable the efficient production of high-performance photocatalysts that can rapidly eliminate ecologically harmful dyes from aqueous solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants)
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19 pages, 7375 KiB  
Article
Photocatalytic Removal of Metronidazole Antibiotics from Water Using Novel Ag-N-SnO2 Nanohybrid Material
by Md. Shahriar Hossain Shuvo, Rupna Akther Putul, Khandker Saadat Hossain, Shah Md. Masum and Md. Ashraful Islam Molla
Toxics 2024, 12(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12010036 - 2 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1213
Abstract
In this study, we employed a straightforward synthetic approach using the sol-gel method to fabricate a novel photocatalyst, Ag and N co-doped SnO2 (Ag-N-SnO2). The synthesized photocatalysts underwent characterization through various techniques including XRD, FTIR, FESEM-EDS, TEM, UV-vis DRS, BET, [...] Read more.
In this study, we employed a straightforward synthetic approach using the sol-gel method to fabricate a novel photocatalyst, Ag and N co-doped SnO2 (Ag-N-SnO2). The synthesized photocatalysts underwent characterization through various techniques including XRD, FTIR, FESEM-EDS, TEM, UV-vis DRS, BET, and XPS. The UV-vis DRS results confirmed a reduction in the bandgap energy of Ag-N-SnO2, leading to enhanced absorption of visible light. Additionally, TEM data demonstrated a smaller particle size for Ag-N-SnO2, and BET analysis revealed a significant increase in surface area compared to SnO2.The efficiency of the Ag-N-SnO2 photocatalyst in degrading metronidazole (MNZ) under natural sunlight surpassed that of SnO2. Under optimal conditions (Ag-N-SnO2 concentration of 0.4 g/L, MNZ concentration of 10 mg/L, pH 9, and 120 min of operation), the highest MNZ photocatalytic removal reached 97.03%. The reaction kinetics followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.026 min−1. Investigation into the mineralization of MNZ indicated a substantial decrease in total organic carbon (TOC) values, reaching around 56% in 3 h of sunlight exposure. To elucidate the photocatalytic degradation mechanism of MNZ with Ag-N-SnO2, a scavenger test was employed which revealed the dominant role of •O2–. The results demonstrated the reusability of Ag-N-SnO2 for up to four cycles, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness as a photocatalyst. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants)
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Review

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26 pages, 4993 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Black Phosphorous-Based Photocatalysts for Degradation of Emerging Contaminants
by Zhaocheng Zhang, Dongyang He, Kangning Zhang, Hao Yang, Siyu Zhao and Jiao Qu
Toxics 2023, 11(12), 982; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11120982 - 3 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1097
Abstract
The recalcitrant nature of emerging contaminants (ECs) in aquatic environments necessitates the development of effective strategies for their remediation, given the considerable impacts they pose on both human health and the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Semiconductor-based photocatalytic technology is recognized for its [...] Read more.
The recalcitrant nature of emerging contaminants (ECs) in aquatic environments necessitates the development of effective strategies for their remediation, given the considerable impacts they pose on both human health and the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Semiconductor-based photocatalytic technology is recognized for its dual benefits in effectively addressing both ECs and energy-related challenges simultaneously. Among the plethora of photocatalysts, black phosphorus (BP) stands as a promising nonmetallic candidate, offering a host of advantages including its tunable direct band gap, broad-spectrum light absorption capabilities, and exceptional charge mobility. Nevertheless, pristine BP frequently underperforms, primarily due to issues related to its limited ambient stability and the rapid recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. To overcome these challenges, substantial research efforts have been devoted to the creation of BP-based photocatalysts in recent years. However, there is a noticeable absence of reviews regarding the advancement of BP-based materials for the degradation of ECs in aqueous solutions. Therefore, to fill this gap, a comprehensive review is undertaken. In this review, we first present an in-depth examination of the fabrication processes for bulk BP and BP nanosheets (BPNS). The review conducts a thorough analysis and comparison of the merits and limitations inherent in each method, thereby delineating the most auspicious avenues for future research. Then, in line with the pathways followed by photogenerated electron–hole pairs at the interface, BP-based photocatalysts are systematically categorized into heterojunctions (Type I, Type II, Z-scheme, and S-scheme) and hybrids, and their photocatalytic performances against various ECs and the corresponding degradation mechanisms are comprehensively summarized. Finally, this review presents personal insights into the prospective avenues for advancing the field of BP-based photocatalysts for ECs remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants)
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20 pages, 6611 KiB  
Review
Recent Developments in Semiconductor-Based Photocatalytic Degradation of Antiviral Drug Pollutants
by Zhaocheng Zhang, Dongyang He, Siyu Zhao and Jiao Qu
Toxics 2023, 11(8), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11080692 - 11 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1214
Abstract
The prevalence of antiviral drugs (ATVs) has seen a substantial increase in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to heightened concentrations of these pharmaceuticals in wastewater systems. The hydrophilic nature of ATVs has been identified as a significant factor contributing to the low [...] Read more.
The prevalence of antiviral drugs (ATVs) has seen a substantial increase in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to heightened concentrations of these pharmaceuticals in wastewater systems. The hydrophilic nature of ATVs has been identified as a significant factor contributing to the low degradation efficiency observed in wastewater treatment plants. This characteristic often necessitates the implementation of additional treatment steps to achieve the complete degradation of ATVs. Semiconductor-based photocatalysis has garnered considerable attention due to its promising potential in achieving efficient degradation rates and subsequent mineralization of pollutants, leveraging the inexhaustible energy of sunlight. However, in recent years, there have been few comprehensive reports that have thoroughly summarized and analyzed the application of photocatalysis for the removal of ATVs. This review commences by summarizing the types and occurrence of ATVs. Furthermore, it places a significant emphasis on delivering a comprehensive summary and analysis of the characteristics pertaining to the photocatalytic elimination of ATVs, utilizing semiconductor photocatalysts such as metal oxides, doped metal oxides, and heterojunctions. Ultimately, the review sheds light on the identified research gaps and key concerns, offering invaluable insights to steer future investigations in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants)
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19 pages, 1767 KiB  
Review
Photocatalytic Degradation of Acetaminophen in Aqueous Environments: A Mini Review
by Zhuowen Wang, Haijun Chen, Chang Rong, Anfeng Li, Xiuyi Hua, Deming Dong, Dapeng Liang and Haiyang Liu
Toxics 2023, 11(7), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11070604 - 12 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1742
Abstract
Over the past few decades, acetaminophen (ACT), a typical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), has gained global usage, positioning itself as one of the most extensively consumed medications. However, the incomplete metabolism of ACT leads to a substantial discharge into the environment, classifying it [...] Read more.
Over the past few decades, acetaminophen (ACT), a typical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), has gained global usage, positioning itself as one of the most extensively consumed medications. However, the incomplete metabolism of ACT leads to a substantial discharge into the environment, classifying it as an environmental contaminant with detrimental effects on non-target organisms. Various wastewater treatment technologies have been developed for ACT removal to mitigate its potential environmental risk. Particularly, photocatalytic technology has garnered significant attention as it exhibits high efficiency in oxidizing and degrading a wide range of organic pollutants. This comprehensive review aims to systematically examine and discuss the application of photocatalytic technology for the removal of ACT from aqueous environments. Additionally, the study provides a detailed overview of the limitations associated with the photocatalytic degradation of ACT in practical applications, along with effective strategies to address these challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants)
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