Solar light-assisted remediation of domestic wastewater by NB-TiO2 nanoparticles for potable reuse

Water reuse has become a worldwide necessity due to scarcity of fresh water supplies. Recently, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) has been incorporated into water reuse treatment train to destroy residual organics in water before its discharge. Yet, the currently applied ultraviolet/H2O2 AOP is associated with high electrical demand by the UV process in addition to transport and storage problems of H2O2. Accordingly, the current work investigates the use of solar light/NB-TiO2 as an efficient AOP for water reuse industry. The technology was developed and tested for degradation of five contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) spiked in Milli-Q water and different wastewater samples. All CECs were successfully removed from individual and quinary systems, even in presence of natural levels of common inorganic quenching agents. Roles of different reactive species involved on the degradation of CECs were explored. Using mass spectroscopy, transformation products from CECs degradation were identified and degradation pathways were hypothesized.