title: Photocatalytic behaviour of WO3/TiO2-N for diclofenac degradation using simulated solar radiation as an activation source.
abstract: In this study, the photocatalytic removal of an emerging contaminant, diclofenac (DCF) sodium, was performed using the nitrogen-doped WO3/TiO2-coupled oxide catalyst (WO3/TiO2-N). The catalyst synthesis was accomplished by a sol-gel method using tetrabutyl orthotitanate (C16H36O4Ti), ammonium p-tungstate [(NH4)10H2W12O42·4H2O] and ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) as the nitrogen source. For comparison, TiO2and WO3/TiO2were also prepared under similar conditions. Analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy (DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were conducted to characterize the synthesized materials. The photocatalytic efficiency of the semiconductors was determined in a batch reactor irradiated with simulated solar light. Residual and mineralized DCF were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography, total organic carbon analysis and ion exchange chromatography. The results indicated that the tungsten atoms were dispersed on the surface of TiO2as WO3. The partial substitution of oxygen by nitrogen atoms into the lattice of TiO2was an important factor to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of WO3/TiO2. Therefore, the best photocatalytic activity was obtained with the WO3/TiO2-N0.18catalyst, reaching 100% DCF transformation at 250 kJ m-2and complete mineralization at 400 kJ m-2of solar-accumulated energy.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Laboratorio de Fotocatálisis y Electroquímica Ambiental, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Universidad, CP66455, San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, Mexico.|Group of Analytical Chemistry, Automation and Environment, University of Balearic Islands, Cra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cordero-García
authors.affiliation: Group of Analytical Chemistry, Automation and Environment, University of Balearic Islands, Cra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turnes Palomino
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Laboratorio de Fotocatálisis y Electroquímica Ambiental, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Universidad, CP66455, San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, Mexico.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hinojosa-Reyes
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Laboratorio de Fotocatálisis y Electroquímica Ambiental, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Universidad, CP66455, San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, Mexico.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Guzmán-Mar
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Laboratorio de Fotocatálisis y Electroquímica Ambiental, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Universidad, CP66455, San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, Mexico.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maya-Teviño
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Laboratorio de Fotocatálisis y Electroquímica Ambiental, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Av. Universidad, CP66455, San Nicolás de los Garza, NL, Mexico. aracely.hernandezrm@uanl.edu.mx.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernández-Ramírez
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002384:Catalysis; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014414:Tungsten; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; D004008:Diclofenac; C009495:titanium dioxide; C511604:tungsten oxide; D014025:Titanium; D009584:Nitrogen; D014414:Tungsten
keywords: Diclofenac; Mixed oxide; Nitrogen doping; Photocatalysis; Simulated solar light; Sol–gel