Photocatalytic CO2 reduction and environmental remediation using mineralization of toxic metal cations products

Journal article

Exploring a sustainable route for the efficient treating/recycling of heavy metal (like Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺) contamination of water is highly desirable both from the environment and resource view. Herein, we reported the scale-up synthesis of monolayer magnesium-aluminium layered double hydroxide (m-MgAl-LDH) nanosheets, which showed exceptional ability to mineralize Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ rapidly and efficiently. Furthermore, m-MgAl-LDH can purify 1 ppm Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cd²⁺ to safe levels. The sorption sites of heavy metal ions were revealed. Ni²⁺ and Cd²⁺ substitute for the Mg²⁺ sites within the MgAl-LDH layers, while Cu²⁺ ions anchor on the surface of MgAl-LDH with high dispersion. The mineralized products from Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ cations further showed excellent performance in visible-light-induced photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ and removal of anions (like PO₄^3- and toxic AsO₂^- ions) efficiently, providing an alternative for the mitigation of energy and resource crisis.

Authors: Lai, T; Wang, J; Xiong, W; Wang, H; Yang, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Chemical Engineering Science
• Volume: 257
• Article number: 117704
• Publication date: 2022-05-04
• Acceptance date: 2022-04-28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2022.117704
• EISSN: 1873-4405
• ISSN: 0009-2509
• Language: English
• Keywords: mineralization; heavy metals; photocatalysis; FFR; layered double hydroxides