Photocatalytic Application

Photocatalysis is considered a more effective form of wastewater purification due to its rapid oxidation process, cost effective and less toxicity.The photocatalysis mechanism involves using light to disintegrate the chemical bonds of dyes, leading to the decomposition of dyes into less harmful compounds. Photocatalysis includes the conventional and advanced (straddling-gap junctions, staggeredgap junctions, broken-gap junctions) processes for reducing the dyes. Additionally, the Z-scheme is an effective method for dye decolorization as it facilitates the separation of excitons and possesses efficient redox capabilities. This chapter provides a detailed discussion of the conventional and advanced photocatalysis mechanism. Moreover, a brief overview of the affecting parameters of photocatalysis, including irradiation time, UV light intensity, pollutant type and concentration, pH of the medium and reaction temperature are discussed. Various methods to increase the photocatalytic activity of the materials were also addressed.