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Improved photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 by doping with tungsten and synthesizing in ionic liquid: precise kinetics-mechanism and effect of oxidizing agents

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Abstract

The degradation of nitroaromatics/toxic energetic compounds contaminated water is a major cause of concern. W-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in ionic liquid, ethyl methyl imidazolium dicyanamide (EMIM-DCA) by a solvothermal method. The developed NPs were sintered at 500 °C and characterized by UV-Vis-DRS, FT-IR, FE-SEM, XRD, XPS, and BET techniques. The 30–40-nm-sized NPs were subjected to photocatalytic degradation of the toxic energetic compound, tetryl (2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethylnitramine) under UV-Vis light. Various operating parameters such as the effect of concentration of catalyst, pH of feed phase, oxidizing agents, and recycling of catalyst were studied in detail. For the first time, the degradation-mechanism pathway and kinetics of tetryl were evaluated. The degradation products were precisely analyzed by using HPLC, GC-MS, and TOC techniques. The USEPA has prescribed a drinking water limit of 0.02 mg L−1, and it was found that 0.5 g of 4% W-TiO2 could totally degrade tetryl (50 mg L−1) within 8 h. The kinetic rate constant of 4% W-TiO2 was 0.356 h−1, whereas pure TiO2 showed 0.207 h−1.

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Funding

This work is financially supported by DRDO (ERIP/ER/1003883/M/01/908/2012/D, R&D/1416, dated, 28-3-2012) New Delhi, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy and Environment Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DU), Ministry of Defence, Pune, 411025, India

    Sandesh S. Raut & Prashant S. Kulkarni

  2. Chemical Engineering and Process Development Division, National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), CSIR, Pune, 411008, India

    Sanjay P. Kamble

Authors
  1. Sandesh S. Raut
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  2. Sanjay P. Kamble
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  3. Prashant S. Kulkarni
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Contributions

This manuscript was contributed by all the authors. Sandesh S. Raut performed the experimental work, collected the data, and wrote the initial draft; Sanjay P. Kamble verified the availability of the data and information; Prashant S. Kulkarni compiled, wrote, and reviewed the manuscript and provided sources of funding. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Prashant S. Kulkarni.

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Raut, S.S., Kamble, S.P. & Kulkarni, P.S. Improved photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 by doping with tungsten and synthesizing in ionic liquid: precise kinetics-mechanism and effect of oxidizing agents. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 17532–17545 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-12107-x

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