Iron-Modified Titanate Nanorods for Oxidation of Aqueous Ammonia Using Combined Treatment with Ozone and Solar Light Irradiation

• Published in: Catalysts Vol. 12; no. 6; p. 666
• Main Authors: Silviu Preda, Polona Umek, Maria Zaharescu, Crina Anastasescu, Simona Viorica Petrescu, Cătălina Gîfu, Diana-Ioana Eftemie, Razvan State, Florica Papa, Ioan Balint
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 01-06-2022
• Subjects: ammonia catalytic ozonation assisted by solar light; Fe-modified titanate; Fe2O3 nanocubes; titanate nanorods
• ISSN: 2073-4344
• DOI: 10.3390/catal12060666

Sodium titanate nanorods were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and subsequently modified with an iron precursor. For comparison, Fe2O3 nanocubes were also obtained through a similar hydrothermal treatment. Pristine, Fe-modified nanorods and Fe2O3 nanocubes were suspended in diluted ammonia solutions (20 ppm) and exposed to ozone and simulated light irradiation. Ammonia abatement, together with the resulting nitrogen-containing products (NO3−), was monitored by ion chromatography measurements. The generation of reactive oxygen species (·OH and O2−) in the investigated materials and their photoelectrochemical behaviour were also investigated. Morphological and structural characterizations (SEM, XRD, XRF, UV–Vis, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD, PL, PZC) of the studied catalysts were correlated with their activity for ammonia degradation with ozone- and photo-assisted oxidation. An increase in ammonia conversion and a decreasing amount of NO3− were achieved by combining the above-mentioned processes.