Photocatalytic ZnO based PES Membranes for AOP Water Treatments under UV and Sunlight

¹DICAR, University of Catania and INSTM UdR Catania, Viale Andrea Doria, 6 - 95100 Catania, Italy

²Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, University of Catania and INSTM UdR Catania, Viale Andrea Doria, 6 - 95100 Catania, Italy

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2019, 10 (11), pp 793-796

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2019.2093

Publication Date (Web): Oct 04, 2019

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: me.fragala@unict.it

Abstract

ZnO nanorods (ZnO) are grown by Chemical Bath Deposition on microfiltration polyetheresulphone (PES) water membranes in order to combine photocatalytic properties of zinc oxide to adsorption properties of membranes. Degradation of a model dye (methylene blue, MB) dispersed in water is promoted by exposition of multifunctional ZnO/PES membranes to UV and solar light: in fact, ZnO decorated membrane ensures generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that degrade the organic pollutants dispersed in water. ZnO degradation promoted by UV irradiation is detectable by anionic meso-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin (H₂TPPS^4-) that is used as effective molecular probe to sense the presence of Zn²⁺ ions due to photocatalytic leaching. © VBRI Press.

Keywords

ZnO, polyetheresulphone, membranes, photocatalysis, water treatments.