TiO<sub>2</sub>-La<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> as Photocatalysts in the Degradation of Naproxen
Adriana Marizcal-Barba,
Isaias Limón-Rocha,
Arturo Barrera,
José Eduardo Casillas,
O. A. González-Vargas,
José Luis Rico,
Claudia Martinez-Gómez,
Alejandro Pérez-Larios
Affiliations
Adriana Marizcal-Barba
Materials, Water and Energy Research Laboratory, Department of Engineering, Los Altos University Center, University of Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47600, Mexico
Isaias Limón-Rocha
Materials, Water and Energy Research Laboratory, Department of Engineering, Los Altos University Center, University of Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47600, Mexico
Arturo Barrera
Laboratory of Catalytic Nanomaterials, Department of Basic Sciences, La Ciénega University Center, University of Guadalajara, Ocotlán 47820, Mexico
José Eduardo Casillas
Laboratory of Catalytic Nanomaterials, Department of Basic Sciences, La Ciénega University Center, University of Guadalajara, Ocotlán 47820, Mexico
O. A. González-Vargas
Control and Automation Engineering Department, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering-Zacatenco, National Polytechnic Institute, Ciudad de México 07738, Mexico
José Luis Rico
Catalysis Laboratory, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Michoacan University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia 58060, Mexico
Claudia Martinez-Gómez
Department of Chemistry, Division of Natural and Exact Sciences, Campus Guanajuato, University of Guanajuato. Noria Alta S/N, Col. Noria Alta, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
Alejandro Pérez-Larios
Materials, Water and Energy Research Laboratory, Department of Engineering, Los Altos University Center, University of Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47600, Mexico
The indiscriminate use of naproxen as an anti-inflammatory has been the leading cause of pollution in sewage effluents. Conversely, titanium dioxide is one of the most promising photocatalyst for the degradation of pollutants. Ti-La mixed oxides containing 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt.% of lanthanum were synthetized by sol-gel and tested as photocatalysts in the degradation of naproxen (NPX). The materials were further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen physisorption (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD patterns resembled that of anatase titania. The Eg values, determined from the UV-Vis spectra, vary from 2.07 to 3.2 eV corresponded to pure titania. The photocatalytic activity of these materials showed a degradation of naproxen from 93.6 to 99.8 wt.% after 4 h under UV irradiation.
