Actividad fotocatalítica de un composito de TiO2: C(activado) en la degradación de p-Nitrofenol en solución acuosa.

Abstract

The nitrophenols in the effluents constitute an environmental problem caused mainly by the industrial discharges that lack a proper management and final disposal. Agricultural activities that apply high levels of inputs to their crops, favor the contamination of surface and underground waters. The environmental control agencies are currently more rigorous in their regulations regarding the permissible limits of discharge of pollutants into the environment, which is why one should opt for the use of more efficient alternatives in the treatment of contaminated effluents such as advanced oxidation processes,, which unlike conventional treatments fail to degrade all types of pollutants; known as persistent. Based on the advanced oxidation processes, the combination of CA / TiO2 / H2O2 / UV shows a high efficiency in the removal of p-Nitrophenol in a concentrated aqueous solution, using an artificial UV lamp, in an average time of 20 min. In addition, it constitutes an alternative for the recovery of TiO2, which, given its tiny particle size, when suspended in water, becomes a particle difficult to remove from the treated solution. The photocatalyst has been supported on two types of coal (dust and scales) giving better results to the composites supported on activated carbon dust, since it is supported in CA in scales, a later removal is presented. It is concluded that the group of composites that had the most efficiency in the degradation of p-Nitrophenol in aqueous solution, were those whose support was activated carbon dust, regardless of the concentration of the impregnation of the semiconductor, with an efficiency of 96.5% in all cases. It is recommended to try the synthesis of the composition by the sol-gel method with the intention of analyzing the possibility of increasing the amount of oxide adhered on the composite's support.