Zn- vs Bi-based oxides for o-toluidine photocatalytic treatment under solar light.
The photodegradation of the highly toxic o-toluidine pollutant was deeply investigated both under UV and solar irradiations by using three different semiconductors: pure ZnO, Bi-impregnated ZnO, and Bi2O3nanopowders (synthesized by precipitating method). All the samples were deeply characterized on structural, morphological, surface, and optical points of view. The disappearance and the relative mineralization of o-toluidine molecules were followed by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and total organic carbon (TOC) determinations, respectively. Hence, correlations between their physico-chemical properties and the photocatalytic performances, passing from UV to solar light, were drawn and a hypothesis on the photodegradation mechanism has been proposed, on the basis of the HPLC/MS results. Bare Bi2O3samples, due to the exploitation of both their visible light absorption and the negligible intermediates formation, resulted to be higher performing under solar irradiation than either pure or Bi-doped ZnO nanopowders. Graphical abstract.
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133, Milan, Italy.|Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), via Giusti 9, 50121, Florence, Italy.
E
E
Pargoletti
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133, Milan, Italy.|Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, via Roberto Cozzi 55, 20125, Milan, Italy.
S
S
Mostoni
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133, Milan, Italy.
G
G
Rassu
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133, Milan, Italy.|Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), via Giusti 9, 50121, Florence, Italy.
V
V
Pifferi
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133, Milan, Italy.|Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), via Giusti 9, 50121, Florence, Italy.
D
D
Meroni
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133, Milan, Italy.|Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), via Giusti 9, 50121, Florence, Italy.
L
L
Falciola
IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Via La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy.
E
E
Davoli
CNR-ISTM/ISTeM, via Fantoli 15/16, 20138, Milan, Italy.
M
M
Marelli
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133, Milan, Italy. giuseppe.cappelletti@unimi.it.|Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), via Giusti 9, 50121, Florence, Italy. giuseppe.cappelletti@unimi.it.
G
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1260-2979
G
Cappelletti
D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000528:radiation effects*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010087:Oxides; D010782:Photolysis; D012666:Semiconductors; D013472:Sunlight; D014052:Toluidines / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D015032:Zinc; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D015386:Hazardous Substances; D010087:Oxides; D014052:Toluidines; C033301:bismuth oxide; C023622:2-toluidine; D015032:Zinc; D015034:Zinc Oxide; D001729:Bismuth
Bismuth doping; Bismuth oxide; Photodegradation; UV/solar irradiations; Zinc oxide; o-Toluidine