Treatment of Wastewater by Solar Energy and Photo-Sensitive Nanomaterials

Summary

This project aims to develop a photo-reactor system for water treatment. The reactor is powered by the solar irradiation uptake by the reactor. The concentrated solar irradiation will be used for the generation of oxidizing species (e.g. hydroxyl radicals) using new TiO2/Fe2O3 based nano-catalysts. The photo-reactor system is designed to specifically target organic pollutants in agricultural and agro-industrial wastewater. The proposed system will have direct impact on water quality and water reuse for agricultural activities as well as a wider impact on health issues. Research will focus on shifting the optical response of titanium dioxide into the visible spectral range which will have a profound positive effect on the photo-catalytic efficiency of these materials. Further, full assessment of the photo-catalytic degradation efficiency of the newly produced materials using specific water contaminants is planned. A significant added value of this approach is the magnetic properties of the proposed photo-catalytic materials, which will allow their mechanical separation from the water.

Achievements

List of Publications from the Project

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