A novel activated carbon-based nanocomposite for the removal of bisphenol-A from water via catalytic ozonation: Efficacy and mechanisms

Abstract

Concerns have been raised about the increasing number and quantity of contaminants in water resources. For a sustainable future, advances for the elimination of these contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are important. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as non-catalytic ozonation and catalytic ozonation, have been shown to be effective in removing dissolved contaminants in water and wastewater. Here, we have used a novel nano-composite bimetallic catalyst (AC/Bi2O3/V2O5) for the removal of 5 mg/L of Bisphenol-A (BPA) from water. The characterization of the bimetallic catalyst using Brunauer Emmet Teller surface area (BET) studies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), raman spectra, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies showed that it binds to the activated carbon surface and no foreign bodies were found. Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) studies confirm the degradation and the robustness of the catalyst structure. Degradation studies with different variables found pH 8, 500 µg/L catalyst dosage and 60 min treatment time optimal for maximum BPA removal (97 %) and total organic carbon (TOC) removal (68 %). TOC analysis confirmed that catalytic ozonation with the novel catalyst is 32 % more efficient than non-catalytic ozonation. The degradation pathway of BPA was determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometer/liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight- mass spectrophotometer (LC-MS/LC-Q-TOF-MS) studies.

Keywords

• Water
• Catalytic Ozonation
• Bisphenol-A
• Nano-bimetallic catalysts
• Degradation
• Byproducts