Insight into the synergistic effect of adsorption–photocatalysis for the removal of organic dye from reservoir water by 3D/0D SrTiO3@SiO2 for real-world applications
摘要
In the present study, we propose a novel 3D/0D composite photocatalyst composed of mesoporous silica (SiO2), synthesized via the sol–gel method using the surface-active agent cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and SrTiO3 nanoparticles doped with aluminum and further modified with Rh/Cr2O3 and CoOOH co-catalysts. To form a stable three-dimensional structure, a combination of freezing and subsequent lyophilization was employed. Two synthetic approaches were investigated: the sol–gel method, ensuring a uniform distribution of nanoparticles within the SiO2 matrix, and the hydrothermal method, promoting strong anchoring of photocatalytic particles on the silica surface. The hydrothermally synthesized composite demonstrated superior performance, achieving 98% removal of methylene blue (10 mg/L) at a catalyst dosage of 10 gL−1 and complete removal at 20 gL−1 under visible-light irradiation. Contribution analysis showed that the sol–gel composite was predominantly adsorption-driven (up to 66%), whereas the hydrothermal composite exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity due to more efficient charge separation. High removal efficiencies (90–99%) were maintained in distilled, tap, and reservoir water. The composite retained over 80% efficiency after six reuse cycles, confirming its stability. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed composite for adsorption–photocatalytic removal of persistent organic pollutants from real aqueous systems.