title: Improved WO3 photocatalytic efficiency using ZrO2 and Ru for the degradation of carbofuran and ampicillin.
abstract: The photocatalytic degradation of carbofuran (pesticide) and ampicillin (pharmaceutical) using synthesized WO3/ZrO2 nanoparticles under simulated solar light was investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectra analyses were used to characterize the prepared catalysts. The optimum ratio of WO3 to ZrO2 was determined to be 1:1 for the degradation of both contaminants. The degradation of carbofuran and ampicillin by WO3/ZrO2 after 240 min of irradiation was 100% and 96%, respectively. Ruthenium (Ru) was employed as an additive to WO3/ZrO2 to enhance the photocatalytic degradation rate. Ru/WO3/ZrO2 exhibited faster degradation rates than WO3/ZrO2. Furthermore, 100% and 97% degradation of carbofuran and ampicillin, respectively, was achieved using Ru/WO3/ZrO2 after 180 min of irradiation. The durability of the catalyst was investigated by reusing the same suspended catalyst, which achieved 92% of its initial efficiency. The photocatalytic degradation of ampicillin and carbofuran followed pseudo-first order kinetics according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Works Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mansoura University, 35516 Aldakahleya, Egypt. Electronic address: mohamed.alkalla@ejust.edu.eg.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gar Alalm
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ookawara
authors.affiliation: Toshiba Materials co., Ltd., Development Group, Development and Engineering Department, 8 Shinsugita-Cho, Isogo-Ku, Yokohama 235-8522, Japan; Department of Innovative and Engineered Materials, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259-S2-16, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fukushi
authors.affiliation: Toshiba Materials co., Ltd., Development Group, Development and Engineering Department, 8 Shinsugita-Cho, Isogo-Ku, Yokohama 235-8522, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Energy, Environmental, Chemical and Petrochemical, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-Just), New Borg El Arab City, 21934 Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tawfik
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin; D002235:Carbofuran; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010782:Photolysis; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014414:Tungsten / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000667:Ampicillin; D012428:Ruthenium; C511604:tungsten oxide; D015040:Zirconium; C028541:zirconium oxide; D002235:Carbofuran; D014414:Tungsten
keywords: Kinetics; Pesticide; Pharmaceutical; Photocatalytic degradation; WO(3)/ZrO(2)