Influence of structural properties on the activity of WO3 catalysts for visible light photocatalytic ozonation

This work is focused on the use of WO3 catalysts with different structural properties for photocatalytic ozonalion using visible light as radialion source. WO3 catalysts were prepared by thermodecomposition of lungstite (H2O WO3) at 300-450 degrees C and different calcination time. Photocatalysls were characterized by means of TGA-DTA, XRD, N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, pH(PZC), XPS and DR-UV-vis spectroscopy. Photocatalytic zonation under visible light radiation with the catalyst calcined 5 min at 450 degrees C gave place to complete removal of ibuprofen in less than 20 min with 87% TOC removal at 120 min. This catalyst gave place to a complete removal of a mixture of ten emerging contaminants in a municipal wastewater in less than GO min with 40% mineralization at 120 min. The highest catalytic activity of this material is due to the formation of monoclinic structure of WO3. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.