Simultaneous mitigation of inorganic pollutants and microorganism from wastewater by xTiO₂ (x=La³⁺ and Ce³⁺) nanoparticles under visible light

ABSTRACT

The amount of currently available freshwater on earth is in continuous decline due to rapidly increased consumption as a result of population growth, industrial use and climate change. Now, it is imperative to look for better approaches to increase the freshwater available to meet the developing requirement for water. Here, we synthesised TiO₂ doped 3%La³⁺ and 3%Ce³⁺ nanoparticles (NPs) by a modified solvolysis process in Dimethyl Sulphoxide (DMSO) to enhance wastewater treatment. The structure and morphology of the undoped and La³⁺ or Ce³⁺-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDXRF), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTA), and Fourier transmission infrared (FT-IR). The results reveal the substitution of both La³⁺ and Ce³⁺ (3.0%) in the TiO₂ anatase lattice forming a homogeneous solid, high‐thermally stable NPs, free from organic compounds and any oxide byproducts. The 3%La³⁺/TiO₂ NPs were able to mitigate more than 84% and 69% of F⁻ and PO₄^3- respectively. On the other hand, 3%Ce³⁺/TiO₂shows better performance for Cr³⁺, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Pb²⁺removal % of 96.9, 94, 98.7, 100, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Doped-TIO₂ NPs
• toxic inorganic pollutants
• toxic microorganism
• wastewater

Acknowledgments

Taif University Researchers Supporting Project number (TURSP-2020/05), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia. Also, this research has been supported by the National Water Research Center (NWRC). Egypt.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Taif University Researchers Supporting Project number (TURSP-2020/05), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia [TURSP-2020/05].