Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), significantly threatening human and environmental health, continuously challenge wastewater treatment technologies because these compounds may pollute surface water if they are not properly treated. The limitations of conventional water treatment processes to remove new CECs drive the development of more efficient, reliable, and ecofriendly treatment alternatives in order to overcome this problem. In this study, various magnetically-recoverable iron-based catalysts were developed following environmentally friendly approaches. In addition, a novel ferrite/titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) core-shell nanocomposite photo-catalyst was also prepared. All these synthesized nanomaterials were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution-TEM, and porosimetry analysis; and their catalytic activity was investigated in a solar-assisted photocatalytic treatment process aiming the destruction of CECs in both an aqueous synthetic solution, and raw municipal wastewater. The performance of the catalysts was assessed considering different initial pH values of the solution, dosages of the catalysts, and initial contaminant concentrations. Iron-based catalysts were easily separated using a magnet and recycled for further wastewater treatment.

Recyclable iron-based catalysts for environmental remediation

251st National Meeting (2016)

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