Photocatalysis is a reaction which is accelerated by light while a heterogeneous reaction consists of two phases ( a solid and a liquid for example). Heterogeneous Photocatalysis is a fast developing science which to date has not been fully detailed in a monograph. This title discusses the basic principles of heterogeneous photocatalysis and describes the bulk and surface properties of semiconductors. Applications of various types of photoreactions are described and the problems related to the modeling and design of photoreactors are covered.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Dyes: Current Trends and Future Perspectives covers in detail current trends and future aspects on photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes using novel photocatalytic techniques such as metallic nanoparticles, heterogeneous and hybrid systems using visible light irradiation. It highlights the most recent scientific and technological achievements and importance of degradation of dyes in the textile effluent by simple environmental friendly approaches using eco-friendly catalysts. It is of assistance to everyone interested in bioremediation of effluents: professionals, consulting engineers, academicians, and research scholars as well. - Describes the basic photocatalytic techniques and their application in wastewater treatment - Covers the key reactive species accounting for the photodegradation of different dyes, providing helpful guidelines that could be applied to foster the development of efficient photodegradation systems - Includes Description of a wide variety of catalysts and their application in degradation of dyes in the effluent of variable matrices (such as textile effluent, pharmaceutical industry effluent, food industry effluent) - Presents the application of doped semiconductors in the degradation of dyes, hybrid systems and their importance in the dye degradation - Describes the biological synthesis of metallic nanostructures and their use in dye degradation using visible range of light irradiation - Discusses the mechanistic aspect of the dye degradation using photo catalysts

Photodegradation of Water Pollutants, the only complete survey available of current photocatalytic methods for treating water pollutants, covers all aspects of light-stimulated detoxification. Ideal for researchers and students, this new book explains methods for pollution treatment that have proven more effective than conventional biodegradation. Photodegradation of Water Pollutants examines advanced oxidation processes that have been successful in treating the chemical substances produced by industrial effluents and intensive agriculture. These oxidation processes include irradiation with ultraviolet or visible light, the use of homogenous sensitizers, such as dyes, and the use of heterogeneous photocatalysts, such as dispersed semiconductors. In addition, Photodegradation of Water Pollutants addresses the naturally occurring self-cleaning of some pollutants in sunlit surface waters, as well as several alternative non-photochemical approaches to water treatment. Available treatment options are discussed for the main groups of water pollutants, including toxic inorganic ions (cyanides, heavy metals), hydrocarbon derivatives (oil spills, surfactants, pulp and paper wastes), halocarbons, organo-N, organo-P, and organo-S compounds. The text also contains a unique section on the economics of advanced oxidation pollution treatments.

Photocatalysts in Advanced Oxidation Processes for Wastewater Treatment comprehensively covers a range of topics aiming to promote the implementation of photocatalysis at large scale through provision of facile and green methods for catalysts synthesis and elucidation of pollutants degradation mechanisms. This book is divided into two main parts namely “Synthesis of effective photocatalysts” (Part I) and “Mechanisms of the photocatalytic degradation of various pollutants” (Part II). The first part focuses on the exploration of various strategies to synthesize sustainable and effective photocatalysts. The second part of the book provides an insights into the photocatalytic degradation mechanisms and pathways under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation, as well as the challenges faced by this technology and its future prospects.

Photocatalysis is a hot topic because it is an environmentally friendly approach toward the conversion of light energy into chemical energy at mild reaction environments. Also, it is well applied in several major areas such as water splitting, bacterial inactivation, and pollutants elimination, which is a possible solution to energy shortage and environmental issues. The fundamental knowledge and the frontier research progress in typical photocatalytic materials, such as TiO2-based and non-TiO2-based photocatalysts, are included in this book. Methods to improve the photocatalytic efficiency and to provide a hint for the rational design of the new photocatalysts are covered.

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a novel technique for water purification. Publications on photocatalysis span a relatively recent period of not more than 25 years. This is a technique that, according to our extensive experience on the development of laboratory scale and pilot plant units, has great promise to eliminate water and air pollutants. Photocatalysis offers much more than competitive techniques where pollutants are transferred from phases; photocatalysis can achieve complete mineralization of pollutants leaving non-toxic species such as CO2 and H2O and can be exploited at close to room temperature and ambient pressure.

This critical volume examines the different methods used for the synthesis of a great number of photocatalysts, including TiO2, ZnO and other modified semiconductors, as well as characterization techniques used for determining the optical, structural and morphological properties of the semiconducting materials. Additionally, the authors discuss photoelectrochemical methods for determining the light activity of the photocatalytic semiconductors by means of measurement of properties such as band gap energy, flat band potential and kinetics of hole and electron transfer. Photocatalytic Semiconductors: Synthesis, Characterization and Environmental Applications provide an overview of the semiconductor materials from first- to third-generation photocatalysts and their applications in wastewater treatment and water disinfection. The book further presents economic and toxicological aspects in the production and application of photocatalytic materials.