Thesis supervisor: Erzsébet Szabóné Bárdos
co-supervisor: Ottó Horváth
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Center for Natural Sciences Abbreviation of location of studies: CNS
Description of the research topic:
Surface waters are polluted with considerable amounts of toxic or dangerous materials (mostly of industrial origins, which cannot be appropriately removed by conventional cleaning technologies). Possible techniques may be membrane technology, vacuum evaporation, biological treatment and photocatalytic procedures. The latter methods proved to be suitable for the treatment of water polluted with various organic and inorganic contaminants. In heterogeneous photocatalytic systems applied for the degradation of organic pollutants the most widely used material is titanium dioxide, TiO2. It is a widely used photoactive semiconductor, mostly in suspension form. Irradiation in the near UV range generates highly reactive (oxidative and reductive) species at the surface of the TiO2 nanoparticles. The band gap of titanium dioxide is rather wide, therefore it can utilize only a small part of the sunlight’s energy. However, there is an increasing demand for extending the sensitivity of this catalyst towards the visible-light region. A visible-light active photocatalyst can be more effective in energetical sense and as an indoor application also self-cleaning and antibacterial surfaces could be realized. A widespread method for extension of the light-sensitivity of TiO2 is doping with different elements.
One of the main disadvantages of photocatalytic methods using homogeneous or dispersed catalysts is that the phase separation after the water treatment is very difficult and expensive. This problem can be eliminated by immobilization of the catalyst. Various supports (such as ceramic, glass, or titanium plates) can be utilized for this purpose.
The environmentally hazardous compounds to be degraded will be selected from the following groups: surfactants (both ionic and nonionic), dyes, pesticides (such as halogenated aromatic compounds), human drugs (e.g., antibiotics).
The applicant will prepare various visible-light-active heterogeneous photocatalysts, also immobilizing them on suitable supports. The application of these catalysts for efficient degradation of selected organic pollutants, including the elucidation of the degradation mechanisms will also be carried out in the frame of this research topic.
Required language skills: English Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2021-01-31
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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