DOI: https://doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.17450

Environmental Footprint Assessment of Methylene Blue Photodegradation using Graphene-based Titanium Dioxide

1School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia, Jalan Sunsuria, Bandar Sunsuria, 43900 Sepang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

2College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005 Xiamen, Malaysia

Received: 16 Feb 2023; Revised: 7 Mar 2023; Accepted: 8 Mar 2023; Available online: 12 Mar 2023; Published: 30 Apr 2023.
Editor(s): Istadi Istadi
Open Access Copyright (c) 2023 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Fulltext View|Download

Citation Format:
Cover Image
Abstract

To date, photocatalysis has received much attention in terms of the degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. Various studies have shown that graphene-based photocatalysts are one of the impressive options owing to their intriguing features, including high surface area, good conductivity, low recombination rate of electron-hole pair, and fast charge separation and transfer. However, the environmental impacts of the photocatalysts synthesis and their photodegradation activity remain unclear. Thus, this report aims to identify the environmental impacts associated with the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) over reduced graphene oxide/titanium oxide photocatalyst (TiO2/rGO) using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The life cycle impacts were assessed using ReCiPe 2016 v1.1 midpoint method, Hierachist version in Gabi software. A cradle-to-gate approach and a functional unit of 1 kg TiO2/rGOwere adopted in the study. Several important parameters, such as the solvent type (ultrapure water, ethanol, and isopropanol), with/without silver ion doping, and visible light power consumption (150, 300, and 500 W) were evaluated in this study. In terms of the selection of solvent, ultrapure water is certainly a better choice since it contributed the least negative impact on the environment. Furthermore, it is not advisable to dope the photocatalyst with silver ions since the increment in performance is insufficient to offset the environmental impact that it caused. The results of different power of visible light for MB degradation showed that the minimum power level, 150 W, could give a comparable photodegradation efficiency and better environmental impacts compared to higher power light sources. Copyright © 2023 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

 

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment; Photodegradation; Graphene-based TiO2; Environmental Impact; Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Funding: Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund under contract XMUMRF/2019-C4/IENG/0019; Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund under contract XMUMRF/2020-C5/IENG/0029; Hengyuan International Sdn. Bhd. under contract EENG/0003

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Original Research Articles
Language : EN
Recent articles
Kinetics of In-Situ Catalytic Pyrolysis of Rice Husk Pellets Using a Multi-Component Kinetics Model Environmental Footprint Assessment of Methylene Blue Photodegradation using Graphene-based Titanium Dioxide Nickel/Biochar from Palm Leaves Waste as Selective Catalyst for Producing Green Diesel by Hydrodeoxygenation of Vegetable Oil Frontmatter (Front Cover, Editorial Team, Indexing, and Table of Contents) Backmatter (Publication Ethics, Copyright Transfer Agreement for Publishing Form) More recent articles
  1. Geetha, D., Nagarajan, E.R. (2021). Impact and Issues of Organic Pollutants. In: Singh, P., Hussain, C.M., Rajkhowa, S. (Eds.) Management of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) in Environment, pp. 93–126. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-822263-8.00003-8
  2. Schell, L.M., Knutson, K.L., Bailey, S. (2012). Environmental Effects on Growth. In: Cameron, N., Bogin, B. (Eds.) Human Growth and Development, pp. 245–286. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-383882-7.00010-6
  3. Wang, Y., Pan, T., Yu, Y., Wu, Y., Pan, Y., Yang, X. (2020). A novel peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-enhanced iron coagulation process for simultaneous removal of trace organic pollutants in water. Water Research, 185, 116136. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116136
  4. Drout, R.J., Robison, L., Chen, Z., Islamoglu, T., Farha, O.K. (2019). Zirconium Metal–Organic Frameworks for Organic Pollutant Adsorption. Trends in Chemistry, 1(3), 304–317. DOI: 10.1016/j.trechm.2019.03.010
  5. Raizada, P., Sudhaik, A., Singh, P. (2019). Photocatalytic water decontamination using graphene and ZnO coupled photocatalysts: A review. Materials Science for Energy Technologies, 2(3), 509–525. DOI: 10.1016/j.mset.2019.04.007
  6. Zhu, D., Zhou, Q. (2019). Action and mechanism of semiconductor photocatalysis on degradation of organic pollutants in water treatment: A review. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, 12, 100255. DOI: 10.1016/j.enmm.2019.100255
  7. Hu, G., Tang, B. (2013). Photocatalytic mechanism of graphene/titanate nanotubes photocatalyst under visible-light irradiation. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 138(2–3), 608–614. DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2012.12.027
  8. Chen, D., Cheng, Y., Zhou, N., Chen, P., Wang, Y., Li, K., Huo, S., Cheng, P., Peng, P., Zhang, R., Wang, L., Liu, H., Liu, Y., Ruan, R. (2020). Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants using TiO2-based photocatalysts: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 268, 121725. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121725
  9. Pesqueira, J.F.J.R., Pereira, M.F.R., Silva, A.M.T. (2021). A life cycle assessment of solar-based treatments (H2O2, TiO2 photocatalysis, circumneutral photo-Fenton) for the removal of organic micropollutants. Science of the Total Environment, 761, 143258. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143258
  10. Fernandes, S., da Silva, J.C.G.E., da Silva, L.P. (2020). Life cycle assessment of the sustainability of enhancing the photodegradation activity of TiO2 with metal-doping. Materials, 13(7), 1487. DOI: 10.3390/ma13071487
  11. Garrafa-Gálvez, H.E., Alvarado-Beltrán, C.G., Almaral-Sánchez, J.L., Hurtado-Macías, A., Garzon-Fontecha, A.M., Luque, P.A., Castro-Beltrán, A. (2019). Graphene role in improved solar photocatalytic performance of TiO2-RGO nanocomposite. Chemical Physics, 521, 35–43. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2019.01.013
  12. Tolosana-Moranchel, Á., Manassero, A., Satuf, M.L., Alfano, O.M., Casas, J.A., Bahamonde, A. (2019). Influence of TiO2-rGO optical properties on the photocatalytic activity and efficiency to photodegrade an emerging pollutant. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 246, 1–11. DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2019.01.054
  13. Gonçalves, B.S., Silva, L.M.C., de Souza, T.C.C., de Castro, V.G., Silva, G.G., Silva, B.C., Krambrock, K., Soares, R.B., Lins, V.F.C., Houmard, M., Nunes, E.H.M. (2019). Solvent effect on the structure and photocatalytic behavior of TiO2-RGO nanocomposites. Journal of Materials Research, 34(23), 3918–3930. DOI: 10.1557/jmr.2019.342
  14. Wang, P., Han, L., Zhu, C., Zhai, Y., Dong, S. (2011). Aqueous-phase synthesis of Ag-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide and Pt-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide hybrid nanostructures and their catalytic properties. Nano Research, 4(11), 1153–1162. DOI: 10.1007/s12274-011-0165-2
  15. Doluel, E.C., Kartal, U., Dikici, T., Yurddaskal, M. (2020). Effect of Ag Content on Photocatalytic Activity of Ag@TiO2/rGO Hybrid Photocatalysts. Journal of Electronic Materials, 49(6), 3849–3859. DOI: 10.1007/s11664-020-08102-0
  16. Garrafa-Gálvez, H.E., Alvarado-Beltrán, C.G., Almaral-Sánchez, J.L., Hurtado-Macías, A., Garzon-Fontecha, A.M., Luque, P.A., Castro-Beltrán, A. (2019). Graphene role in improved solar photocatalytic performance of TiO2-RGO nanocomposite. Chemical Physics, 521, 35–43. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphys.2019.01.013
  17. Vinesh, V., Shaheer, A.R.M., Neppolian, B. (2019). Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) supported electron deficient B-doped TiO2 (Au/B-TiO2/rGO) nanocomposite: An efficient visible light sonophotocatalyst for the degradation of Tetracycline (TC). Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 50, 302–310. DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2018.09.030
  18. Yu, L., Wang, L., Sun, X., Ye, D. (2018). Enhanced photocatalytic activity of rGO/TiO2 for the decomposition of formaldehyde under visible light irradiation. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 73, 138–146. DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2018.01.022
  19. Yu, M., Yu, T., Chen, S., Guo, Z., Seok, I. (2020). A Facile Synthesis of Ag/TiO2/rGO Nanocomposites with Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity. ES Materials & Manufacturing, 7, 64–69. DOI: 10.30919/esmm5f712
  20. Tan, K.C., Lim, H.S., Mat Jafri, M.Z. (2018). Study on solar ultraviolet erythemal dose distribution over Peninsular Malaysia using Ozone Monitoring Instrument. The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Science, 21(1), 105–110. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrs.2017.01.001
  21. Rahman, M.M., Adil, M., Yusof, A.M., Kamaruzzaman, Y.B., Ansary, R.H. (2014). Removal of Heavy Metal Ions with Acid Activated Carbons Derived from Oil Palm and Coconut Shells. Materials, 7(5), 3634-3650. DOI: 10.3390/ma7053634
  22. Freshwater Ecotoxicity as an environmental impact category to guide the selection of chemical-based products - ECETOC. https://www.ecetoc.org/task-force/freshwater-ecotoxicity-as-an-environmental-impact-category-to-guide-the-selection-of-chemical-based-products/. Accessed 11 Nov 2022
  23. Falkenmark, M., Rockström, J., Savenije, H. (2008). Balancing Water for Humans and Nature: The New Approach in Ecohydrology. Routledge. pp. 1–268
  24. Energy Commission (2015). Malaysia Energy Statistic Handbook. Suruhanjaya Tenaga (Energy Commision) No. 12, Jalan Tun Hussein, Presint 2, 62100 Putrajaya, Malaysia
  25. environmental impact of energy — European Environment Agency. https://www.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/eea-glossary/environmental-impact-of-energy. Accessed 11 Nov 2022
  26. Bilici, Z., Bouchareb, R., Sacak, T., Yatmaz, H.C., Dizge, N. (2021). Recycling of TiO2-containing waste and utilization by photocatalytic degradation of a reactive dye solution. Water Science and Technology, 83(5), 1242–1249. DOI: 10.2166/wst.2020.606
  27. Siong, V.L.E., Tai, X.H., Lee, K.M., Juan, J.C., Lai, C.W. (2020). Unveiling the enhanced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties of reduced graphene oxide for photodegradation of methylene blue dye. RSC Advances, 10(62), 37905–37915. DOI: 10.1039/D0RA06703B
  28. Modan, E.M., Plăiașu, A.G. (2020). Advantages and Disadvantages of Chemical Methods in the Elaboration of Nanomaterials. The Annals of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati Fascicle IX, Metallurgy and Materials Science, 43(1), 53–60. DOI: 10.35219/mms.2020.1.08
  29. Wang, P., Han, L., Zhu, C., Zhai, Y., Dong, S. (2011). Aqueous-phase synthesis of Ag-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide and Pt-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide hybrid nanostructures and their catalytic properties. Nano Research, 4(11), 1153–1162. DOI: 10.1007/S12274-011-0165-2
  30. Doluel, E.C., Kartal, U., Dikici, T., Yurddaskal, M. (2020). Effect of Ag Content on Photocatalytic Activity of Ag@TiO2/rGO Hybrid Photocatalysts. Journal of Electronic Materials, 49(6), 3849–3859. DOI: 10.1007/S11664-020-08102-0
  31. Costamagna, M., Ciacci, L., Paganini, M.C., Calza, P., Passarini, F. (2020). Combining the highest degradation efficiency with the lowest environmental impact in zinc oxide based photocatalytic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 252, 119762. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119762
  32. Jo, W.K., Tayade, R.J. (2014). New generation energy-efficient light source for photocatalysis: LEDs for environmental applications. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 53(6), 2073–2084. DOI: 10.1021/ie404176g

Last update:

No citation recorded.

Last update:

No citation recorded.