3D-PHOTOCAT - Activities 2020

The main scientific objective of the 2020 phase is the synthesis and characterization of carbonaceous materials and activated carbon/titanium dioxide layers with applications in the adsorption and photocatalysis of pollutants in water. A secondary objective was the dissemination of project results through participation in the online project meeting, publication of articles, and the dissemination of results by proposing bachelor's and master's thesis topics.

SUMMARY:

Activated carbon powders from acacia and oak wood were synthesized through physical activation (carbonization) and chemical activation (treatment with H3PO4).
An experimental protocol was proposed for obtaining activated carbon from acacia and oak wood, including its synthesis and characterization.
The materials were characterized for pH, conductivity, moisture content, ash content, volatile matter content, point of zero charge (pHZPC), crystallinity, and composition (XRD), morphology (SEM), and elemental composition (EDX).
Adsorption studies were conducted, including adsorption isotherms.
A deposition protocol for titanium dioxide on activated carbon in the form of layers was defined using a pyrolytic spray, and the layers were characterized through XRD and SEM-EDX.
The obtained results were disseminated through (1) the creation of the project's website, (2) the publication of two ISI articles in the Nanomaterials journal, and (3) the proposal of a bachelor's thesis topic and two master's thesis topics, which will be defended in 2021.
Communication within the project was conducted through an online meeting on September 4th, regular face-to-face meetings with Partner 4 (EPI), and phone discussions with the coordinator in Spain.

The activities carried out by UTBV this year are as follows:

⇨ Activity 1.1: Synthesis of high-surface-area carbonaceous materials (Implementation period: July 2020 - June 2021)

⇨ Activity 1.2: Deposition of TiO2 on the surface of carbonaceous materials (Implementation period: October 2020 - December 2021)

⇨ Activity 1.3: Characterization of materials (Implementation period: July 2020 - December 2022)

⇨ Activity 1.4: Dissemination and communication (Implementation period: throughout the project)