Recyclability is an important aspect for heterogeneous photo-catalysts. Ease of recovery and stability of the photo-catalyst in terms of efficiency over the number of cycles are highly desired and in fact it is ideal if the efficiency is constant and it should not decrease marginally with each cycle. Presented here is a seminal observation in which the photocatalytic activity is shown to improv...

Photo-excitation of certain semiconductors can lead to the production of reactive oxygen species that can inactivate microorganisms. The mechanisms involved are reviewed, along with two important applications. The first is the use of photocatalysis to enhance the solar disinfection of water. It is estimated that 750 million people do not have accessed to an improved source for drinking and many...

This paper offers a perspective on inner-sphere heterogeneous electron-transfer reactions and electrocatalysis as it is applied to electrochemical energy conversion systems. Fundamental concepts and an overview of past approaches to studies of these types of reactions are discussed. A method for the discovery of new electrocatalysts (for example, ones for the oxygen reduction reaction) and phot...

The selective conversion of alcohols to carbonyl compounds is essential for the preparation of fragrances, food additives, and many organic intermediates. This transformation is carried out by catalytic processes that are of fundamental importance in synthetic chemistry. Catalytic oxidation has long been carried out in environmentally harmful organic solvents (often chlorinated ones) at high te...

In the present work the degradation of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by concrete paving stones containing TiO2 to be applied in road construction is studied. A kinetic model is proposed to describe the photocatalytic reaction of nitric oxide (NO) in a standard flow laminar photoreactor irradiated with UV lamps. In addition the influence of several parameters that can affect the performance of these sto...

Heterogeneous photocatalysis, due to its high efficiency, safety and profitability, has become an effective technology for solving environmental problems, example, in wastewater treatment, the removal of organic pollutants [...]

Effects of different flocculants (chloride-based salts and ferric and ferrous salts) and initial organic concentration of wastewater on flocculation-photocatalysis hybrid process were investigated. Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) adsorption alone, flocculation alone, flocculation followed by TiO2 adsorption, photocatalysis alone, and flocculation followed by photocatalysis removed 60%, 72%, 80%, 85%, a...