ABSTRACT
In this work, we present the synthesis of TiO2 photocatalysts modified with different % mol of tin using the sol-gel method. The materials were characterized using different analytical techniques. The Rietveld refinement, XPS, Raman and UV-Vis techniques confirm the substitution of tin in the TiO2 structural lattice due to changes in crystal lattice parameters, the low-energy shift of the Sn 3d5/2 orbital, generation of oxygen vacancies and the decreased band gap and increased BET surface area. The material with 1 mol% tin shows superior catalytic activity compared to the references for the degradation of 40 ppm 4-chlorophenol (3 hours of reaction) and 50 ppm phenol (6 hours of reaction). Reactions fit pseudo first order kinetics in both instances. The increase in photodegradation efficiency was attributed to the generation of energy levels below the TiO2 conduction band caused by the incorporation of 1% mol of tin, oxygen vacancies, and the heterojunction formed between the brookite-anatase-rutile, causing inhibition of the recombination of the electron (e-) and hole (h+) photogenerated species. The easy synthesis, low cost and increased photodegradation efficiency of the photocatalyst with 1 mol% tin have the potential to favor the remediation of recalcitrant compounds in water.
ABSTRACT
Rheological behavior of a lignin-degrading culture of Phanerochaete chrysosporium CDBB-H-298 was determined. Rheological characteristics revealed a Newtonian behavior in the culture medium without fungi, and a non-Newtonian dilatant behavior with fungi. In addition, the rheological behavior of the lignin-containing culture medium was complex, and changed from dilatant to pseudoplastic. During fungal growth without lignin in Kirk media rheological behavior exhibited a parabolic profile, and thixotropy showed a tendency to increase. Results indicated a small increase in the apparent viscosity in the presence of lignin; however, this may not affect the oxygen and mass transfer coefficients. The present findings can be applied to bioreactor desing for waste water treatment.
