Photocatalytic activity of Al2O3 improved by the addition of Ce3+/Ce4+ synthesized by the sol-gel method. Photodegradation of phenolic compounds using UV light. (15th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Piña-Pérez, Yanet; Tzompantzi-Morales, Francisco; Pérez-Hernández, Raúl; Arroyo-Murillo, Rubén; Acevedo-Peña, Próspero; Gómez-Romero, Ricardo
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 198(2017)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2017-06-15
• Subjects: Phenolic contaminants photodegradation -- Photocatalyst Al2O3:Ce3+/Ce4+ -- Sol-gel synthesis; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2016.12.040
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Photocatalyst Al2 O3 :Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ were synthesized by the sol-gel method. Addition of cerium impurities to Al2 O3 improves its photoactivity. The redox pair Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ acts as an electron trap. The sensitization of the organic molecule previous its mineralization occurs. Abstract: The materials Al2 O3 :Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ (cerium content 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 wt.%) were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX); also, some electrochemical tests were performed for the materials characterization. The materials were evaluated in the phenol photodegradation using UV light. The photocatalyst containing 1.0 wt.% cerium (AC1.0) presented the highest photoactivity than the others synthesized samples. This catalyst was selected to photodegrade others phenolic derivatives such as 4-chlorophenol, p-cresol, and 4-nitrophenol. All the synthesized photocatalysts by the sol-gel method showed a better activity than (TiO2, P25 Degussa). The photodegradation reactions were followed by UV–Vis spectroscopy and total organic carbon TOC. A reaction mechanism is proposed involving the sensitization of the organic molecule on Al2 O3 :Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ with UV light for its mineralization.