V. Sturzenegger

Bio: V. Sturzenegger is an academic researcher from Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Detection limit & Distilled water. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 728 citations.

Generation and Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species in Photocatalysis

Abstract: The detection methods and generation mechanisms of the intrinsic reactive oxygen species (ROS), i.e., superoxide anion radical (•O2–), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), singlet oxygen (1O2), and hydroxyl radical (•OH) in photocatalysis, were surveyed comprehensively. Consequently, the major photocatalyst used in heterogeneous photocatalytic systems was found to be TiO2. However, besides TiO2 some representative photocatalysts were also involved in the discussion. Among the various issues we focused on the detection methods and generation reactions of ROS in the aqueous suspensions of photocatalysts. On the careful account of the experimental results presented so far, we proposed the following apprehension: adsorbed •OH could be regarded as trapped holes, which are involved in a rapid adsorption–desorption equilibrium at the TiO2–solution interface. Because the equilibrium shifts to the adsorption side, trapped holes must be actually the dominant oxidation species whereas •OH in solution would exert the reactivity...

Degradation of chlorophenols by means of advanced oxidation processes: a general review

Abstract: Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) constitute a promising technology for the treatment of wastewaters containing non-easily removable organic compounds. Chlorophenols (CPs) are a group of special interest due to their high toxicity and low biodegradability. Data concerning the degradation of CPs by means of AOPs reported during the period 1995–2002 are evaluated in this work. Among the AOPs, the following techniques are studied: processes based on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2+UV, Fenton, photo-Fenton and Fenton-like processes), photolysis, photocatalysis and processes based on ozone (O3, O3+UV and O3+catalyst). Half-life times and kinetic constants for CP degradation are reviewed and the different mechanistic degradation pathways are taken into account.

Comparison of halide impacts on the efficiency of contaminant degradation by sulfate and hydroxyl radical-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).

Abstract: The effect of halides on organic contaminant destruction efficiency was compared for UV/H2O2 and UV/S2O82– AOP treatments of saline waters; benzoic acid, 3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid, and cyclohexanecarboxylic acid were used as models for aromatic, alkene, and alkane constituents of naphthenic acids in oil-field waters. In model freshwater, contaminant degradation was higher by UV/S2O82– because of the higher quantum efficiency for S2O82– than H2O2 photolysis. The conversion of •OH and SO4•– radicals to less reactive halogen radicals in the presence of seawater halides reduced the degradation efficiency of benzoic acid and cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. The UV/S2O82– AOP was more affected by Cl– than the UV/H2O2 AOP because oxidation of Cl– is more favorable by SO4•– than •OH at pH 7. Degradation of 3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid, was not affected by halides, likely because of the high reactivity of halogen radicals with alkenes. Despite its relatively low concentration in saline waters compared to Cl–, ...

Platinized WO3 as an environmental photocatalyst that generates OH radicals under visible light.

Abstract: This study aims to understand the visible light photocatalytic activities of platinized WO3 (Pt/WO3) on the degradation of aquatic pollutants and the role of main photooxidants. The presence of Pt on WO3 is known to facilitate the multielectron reduction of O2, which enables O2 to serve as an electron acceptor despite the insufficient reduction potential of the conduction band electrons (in WO3) for the one-electron reduction of O2. The concurrent oxidative reactions occurring on WO3 were markedly enhanced in the presence of Pt and accompanied the production of OH radicals under visible light, which was confirmed by both a fluorescence method (using a chemical trap) and a spin trap method. The generation of OH radicals mainly comes from the reductive decomposition of H2O2 that is produced in situ from the reduction of O2 on Pt/WO3. The rate of in situ production of H2O2 under visible light was significantly faster with Pt/WO3 than WO3. Six substrates that were tested for the visible light (λ > 420 nm) ind...