PhotoGraph
Research Projects
PhotoGraph
Photocatalytic removal of organic micro-pollutants from the aqueous phase using TiO2 coupled with graphene as a photocatalyst
Program at a glance
Funding Agency | Co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation (DESMI 2009-2010) |
Program Period | 2012-2014 |
Project Acronym | PhotoGraph |
Project Code | ΑΕΙΦΟΡΙΑ/ΦΥΣΗ/0311(ΒΙΕ)/33 |
Project Title | Photocatalytic removal of organic micro-pollutants from the aqueous phase using TiO2 coupled with graphene as a photocatalyst |
Project Coordinator | Prof. Despo Fatta-Kassinos, Nireas – International Water Research Center, University of Cyprus |
Project partners | Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete S.K. Euromarket Ltd.S.K. Euromarket Ltd. |
Total Budget | 159,964 € |
Budget for Nireas-IWRC | 88,476 € |
Project website | www.PhotoGraphProject.com |
Program Overview
The aim of the project entitled “Photocatalytic removal of organic micro-pollutants from the aqueous phase using TiO2 coupled with graphene as a photocatalyst (PhotoGraph)” was to develop simple and efficient methods for synthesizing TiO2 catalysts coupled with graphene, and to study their photocatalytic performance under solar radiation for the degradation of various contaminants of emerging concern, including pharmaceuticals. Graphene was chosen because it was an interesting material with exceptional properties, isolated for the first time in 2004.
Objectives
- To synthesize innovative, cheap and non-hazardous materials (TiO2-graphene composite photocatalysts) that could be employed to establish a sustainable water and wastewater treatment method, based on solar driven heterogeneous TiO2 photocatalysis for the degradation of contaminants of emerging concern such as pharmaceuticals, thus reducing the energy fingerprint of the Euro-Mediterranean basin.
- To bridge the gap between laboratory-scale research and technical-scale applications, demonstrating the proposed method of solar photocatalysis at a pilot unit setup.