Ag2CO3-Based Photocatalyst with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity for Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Degradation: A Review

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the aquatic environment have garnered a lot of attention during the past few years. Due to their toxic behavior, which interferes with endocrine functions in both humans and aquatic species, these types of compounds have been recognized as major polluting agents in wastewater effluents. Therefore, the development of efficient and sustainable removal methods for these emerging contaminants is essential. Photocatalytic removal of emerging contaminants using silver carbonate (Ag2CO3)-based photocatalyst is a promising process due to the unique characteristics of this catalyst, such as absorption of a larger fraction of the solar spectrum, wide band gap, non-toxicity, and low cost. The photocatalytic performance of Ag2CO3 has recently been improved through the doping of elements and optimization variation of operational parameters resulting in decreasing the rate of electron-hole pair recombination and an increase in the semiconductor's excitation state efficiency, which enables the degradation of contaminants under UV or visible light exposure. This review summarized some of the relevant investigations related to Ag2CO3-based photocatalytic materials for EDC removal from water. The inclusion of Ag2CO3-based photocatalytic materials in the water recovery procedure suggests that the creation of a cutting-edge protocol is essential for successfully eliminating EDCs from the ecosystem.

Automated summary

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the aquatic environment have been recognized as major polluting agents. Photocatalytic removal using silver carbonate (Ag2CO3)-based photocatalyst is a promising process for eliminating EDCs due to its unique characteristics. The performance of Ag2CO3 has been improved through element doping and optimization of operational parameters. This review summarizes investigations on Ag2CO3-based photocatalytic materials for EDC removal, suggesting the need for a cutting-edge protocol in water recovery to successfully eliminate EDCs.