Degradação fotocatalítica do ibuprofeno utilizando Nb2O5

Abstract

The presence of emerging contaminants in effluents and waters destined for public consumption is a potential problem for human health and the affected environment. In this connection, since conventional water treatment processes do not efficiently remove emerging contaminants, the search for alternative process solutions for the removal of this class of substances has increased in recent years. The present study was aimed at analyze which are the best conditions of calcination temperature, pH and quantity of catalyst to obtain the best degradation rate of ibuprofen by heterogeneous photocatalysis with artificial radiation. In addition, the catalysts were characterized by the following techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoacoustic spectroscopy and the B.E.T. To determine the concentrations of ibuprofen in the reactions, the UV-vis spectrophotometer was used. It was concluded that the catalyst without calcination is the most efficient in the degradation of ibuprofen, that pH is the independent variable that most influences its degradation. It was also concluded that the replacement of TiO2 by Nb2O5 is viable, as it presents a higher rate of degradation.