Treatment of real wastewater with TiO2-films sensitized by a natural-dye obtained from Picramnia sellowii

J. A. Fernández, A. Suan, J. C. Ramírez, J. Robles, J. C. Salcedo, A. M. Pedroza, C. E. Daza

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

A natural dye extracted from Picramnia sellowii (Chokanari) was used to prepare sensitized TiO2 films. Dyes and heterotrophic microorganisms present in wastewater were treated by photocatalysis using visible light. A factorial design 23 was employed to select the operational conditions to sensitize TiO2 films. The combined treatment using a concentration of 0.03% w/v of sensitizer (natural dye), 700 rpm (spin-coating) and 300 color units of wastewater showed interesting results, removing close to 60% of the color and 60% of Chemical Oxygen Demand. Kinetic experiments using the best coated films showed that Total Organic Carbon abatement was higher using sensitized films, conversely, no statistical differences were found in color removal when comparing sensitized and non-sensitized films. Heterotrophic microorganisms were completely inactivated following 12 h of treatment with sensitized films. Films can be used up to 5 operational cycles with loss of catalytic activity close to 10%.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2848-2856
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Volume4
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 01 Sep 2016

Keywords

  • Bacteria
  • Chokanari
  • Dye-sensitized
  • TiO-films
  • Wastewater

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