Degree
Master of Engineering Science
Program
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Supervisor
Dr. Ajay K. Ray
2nd Supervisor
Dr. Ernest K. Yanful
Joint Supervisor
Abstract
The improvement of photocatalyst efficiency in utilizing the majority of wavelengths in the solar spectrum, an abundant natural resource, presents the next step in the large scale application of photocatalysis for the treatment of dissolved organic and inorganic pollutants in wastewater. In this study, a composite catalyst of TiO2 and Graphene synthesized by a hydrothermal treatment method is used to photo-reduce Zn2+, the most abundant heavy metal found in combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The performance of this composite catalyst was assessed under various process conditions such as pH, light intensity, catalyst loading and light source. The TiO2-Graphene composite catalyst showed a 14.0 ± 1.0 % increase in adsorption capacity of the model compound as compared to pure TiO2 at neutral pH. Also, a 19.2 ± 0.04 % increase in the photoactivity for the reduction of Zn2+ was recorded under solar light conditions using TiO2-G photocatalyst as compared to bare TiO2 when reaction rate constants are compared. This enhancement is a result of the availability of more sorption sites, decrease in bandgap of the TiO2, and effectiveness of the charge separation in the TiO2-G composite catalyst.
Recommended Citation
Kumordzi, Gloria, "Solar Photocatalytic Reduction of Zn2+ Using Graphene-Based TiO2 Composite Catalyst for Application to CSO Treatment" (2015). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 2751.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/2751