Photodegradation of hazardous organic pollutants using titanium oxides -based photocatalytic: A review

Abstract

Titanium oxide-based photocatalysts (TOBPs) have been widely utilized as potential materials for numerous applications, such as wastewater treatment, water-splitting reactions, carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction and photosynthesis. However, the large bandgap of intrinsic TiO₂ limits their absorption toward visible light, which is the central part of the solar spectrum, resulting in low photocatalytic activities under sunlight. To overcome this obstacle, several strategies, such as doping with either metal or non-metal elements or combining with other compounds, are efficient ways to reduce the bandgap of TiO₂, leading to effectively extending their absorption toward the visible region and increasing their catalytic performance. In this review, we discussed the application of TOBPs for the photodegradation of hazardous organic pollutants in wastewater to produce quality reused water. The synthesis of TiO₂ and the enhancement of photocatalytic activities of TOBPs by different techniques with detailed information were provided. Application of TOBPs for decomposing hazardous organic pollutants such as dyes, phenolic compounds and pharmaceuticals under optimum conditions have been listed. Also, the photodegradation mechanisms of hazardous organic compounds have been investigated. This work also brings ideas for future perspectives and research plan to inhibit the disadvantages and expand the application of TOBPs to remove toxic organic pollutants.

Keywords: Hazardous organic pollutants; Modified TiO(2); Organic dyes; Pharmaceuticals; TiO(2); Wastewater treatment.