Cleaning up contaminants: Catalytic degradation of model organic pollutants
Location
Poster #17
Department
Chemistry
Abstract
Organic water pollutants, such as aromatic hydrocarbons and microplastics, can be challenging to clean up through filtration or chemical water treatment methods. A material called a photocatalyst works by absorbing energy from light and converting it into chemical energy, which can then react with and degrade organic pollutants to remove them from the environment. Two photocatalysts, bismuth copper oxysulfide (BiCuOS) and bismuth iron trioxide (BiFeO3) were synthesized through solvothermal methods and combined in solution with model organic pollutants. The degradation activity of each catalyst was measured under no light, visible light, and ultraviolet light conditions by monitoring the UV-vis absorbance spectra of the organic compounds. A decrease in the absorbance was indicative of successful decomposition of the compound. The BiCuOS catalyst had much higher activity in visible light than BiFeO3, owing to its strong absorbance in the visible region. Surprisingly, BiCuOS also showed degradation activity in the dark, indicating a chemical mechanism may also be involved. Future experiments will examine the mechanism of photochemical degradation and work to identify the chemical byproducts that are formed. The results of this work will advance greener methods of environmental remediation, such as the use of solar energy to clean up organic pollutants
Faculty Sponsor
Samantha Brown-Xu
Cleaning up contaminants: Catalytic degradation of model organic pollutants
Poster #17
Organic water pollutants, such as aromatic hydrocarbons and microplastics, can be challenging to clean up through filtration or chemical water treatment methods. A material called a photocatalyst works by absorbing energy from light and converting it into chemical energy, which can then react with and degrade organic pollutants to remove them from the environment. Two photocatalysts, bismuth copper oxysulfide (BiCuOS) and bismuth iron trioxide (BiFeO3) were synthesized through solvothermal methods and combined in solution with model organic pollutants. The degradation activity of each catalyst was measured under no light, visible light, and ultraviolet light conditions by monitoring the UV-vis absorbance spectra of the organic compounds. A decrease in the absorbance was indicative of successful decomposition of the compound. The BiCuOS catalyst had much higher activity in visible light than BiFeO3, owing to its strong absorbance in the visible region. Surprisingly, BiCuOS also showed degradation activity in the dark, indicating a chemical mechanism may also be involved. Future experiments will examine the mechanism of photochemical degradation and work to identify the chemical byproducts that are formed. The results of this work will advance greener methods of environmental remediation, such as the use of solar energy to clean up organic pollutants