Wastewater Treatment using Innovative Green-Synthesized rGO, TiO2NPs, and rGO/TiO2 Nanocomposite: Structural, Morphological, Spectroscopic, Thermal, and Photocatalytic Studies

IF 3.8 4区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Pub Date : 2025-01-03 DOI:10.1007/s11270-024-07692-3

Ola M. El-Borady

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Recently, innovative research focused on combining 2D nanosheet materials with semiconducting metal oxide for several industrial applications. Notably, for wastewater treatment, new techniques were developed by experts to mitigate environmental hazards. The TiO₂/reduced graphene (rGO) nanocomposite has recently attracted interest due to its superior activity in diverse fields, particularly water treatment. This study compares and evaluates the environmental application of innovative and eco-friendly synthesized TiO₂NPs, rGO, and TiO₂/rGO nanocomposite using Carob pods (Ceratonia siliqua) extract. Extensive morphological, structural, spectroscopic, thermal, and surface charge analysis was performed, including TEM, AFM, SEM mapping, X-ray diffraction, UV–visible, FTIR, Raman Spectroscopy, EDX, TGA, and the Zeta Potential analysis were performed to bring out the properties of synthesized nanomaterials. In addition, the phenolic compounds determined (30.78 ± 0.1 µg/mL) in the pods' extract confirmed their role in the reduction process to form rGO and TiO₂NPs. Furthermore, the three designed nanomaterials were applied as adsorbent candidates for heavy metals and as photocatalysts for removing industrial dye from wastewater. The nanocomposite exhibited the highest absorption capacity for Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Cd²⁺. Also, the photocatalytic performance of the nanocomposite demonstrated a significant improvement in Methylene Blue (MB) dye elimination (90%, 15 min) compared to free TiO₂NPs (87.5%, 150 min). The findings reveal that the green synthesized rGO/TiO₂ nanocomposite can be used to improve the removal of heavy metals and dye contaminants from wastewater.

Graphical Abstract

Represents the green synthesis of rGO, TiO₂, and rGO/TiO₂ nanocomposite using carob extract and their potential application in wastewater treatment

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来源期刊

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

6.90%

发文量

448

审稿时长

2.6 months

期刊介绍： Water, Air, & Soil Pollution is an international, interdisciplinary journal on all aspects of pollution and solutions to pollution in the biosphere. This includes chemical, physical and biological processes affecting flora, fauna, water, air and soil in relation to environmental pollution. Because of its scope, the subject areas are diverse and include all aspects of pollution sources, transport, deposition, accumulation, acid precipitation, atmospheric pollution, metals, aquatic pollution including marine pollution and ground water, waste water, pesticides, soil pollution, sewage, sediment pollution, forestry pollution, effects of pollutants on humans, vegetation, fish, aquatic species, micro-organisms, and animals, environmental and molecular toxicology applied to pollution research, biosensors, global and climate change, ecological implications of pollution and pollution models. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution also publishes manuscripts on novel methods used in the study of environmental pollutants, environmental toxicology, environmental biology, novel environmental engineering related to pollution, biodiversity as influenced by pollution, novel environmental biotechnology as applied to pollution (e.g. bioremediation), environmental modelling and biorestoration of polluted environments. Articles should not be submitted that are of local interest only and do not advance international knowledge in environmental pollution and solutions to pollution. Articles that simply replicate known knowledge or techniques while researching a local pollution problem will normally be rejected without review. Submitted articles must have up-to-date references, employ the correct experimental replication and statistical analysis, where needed and contain a significant contribution to new knowledge. The publishing and editorial team sincerely appreciate your cooperation. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution publishes research papers; review articles; mini-reviews; and book reviews.