title: TiO2-sludge carbon enhanced catalytic oxidative reaction in environmental wastewaters applications.
abstract: The enhanced oxidative potential of sludge carbon/TiO2 nano composites (SNCs), applied as heterogeneous catalysts in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), was studied. Fabrification of efficient SNCs using different methods and successful evaluation of their catalytic oxidative activity is reported for the first time. Surface modification processes of hydrothermal deposition, chemical treatment and sol-gel solution resulted in improved catalytic activity and good surface chemistry of the SNCs. The solids obtained after chemical treatment and hydrothermal deposition processes exhibit excellent crystallinity and photocatalytic activity. The highest photocatalytic rate was obtained for the material prepared using hydrothermal deposition technique, compared to other nanocomposites. Further, improved removal of bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous phase by means of catalytic ozonation and catalytic wet air oxidation processes is achieved over the solid synthesized using chemical treatment method. The present results demonstrate that the addition of TiO2 on the surface of sludge carbon (SC) increases catalytic oxidative activity of SNCs. The latter produced from harmful sludge materials can be therefore used as cost-effective and efficient sludge derived catalysts for the removal of hazardous pollutants.
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, ETSEQ, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Paisos Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Athalathil
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Boštjan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erjavec
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, ETSEQ, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Paisos Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stüber
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, ETSEQ, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Paisos Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bengoa
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, ETSEQ, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Paisos Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Font
authors.affiliation: Departamentd'Enginyeria Quimica, EPSEVG, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Av. Victor Balaguer s/n, 08800 Vilanova i la Geltru, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Agusti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fortuny
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: albin.pintar@ki.si.
authors.forename: Albin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pintar
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, ETSEQ, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Paisos Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain. Electronic address: azael.fabregat@urv.cat.
authors.forename: Azael
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabregat
keywords: Catalytic oxidative reaction; Fabrication process; Nano composites; Sludge carbons; Wastewater treatment