Full Name
Gbemisola Bamiduro
Research interests
chemistry , environmental-science
Bio
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a pervasive and persistent chlorinated organic pollutant frequently found in groundwater sources, posing significant risks to both human health and the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified TCE as a carcinogen associated with various serious health issues, highlighting the urgent need for effective remediation strategies. In this presentation, we introduce a novel photocatalyst, Bismuth Stannate (Bi₂Sn₂O₇), synthesized through a surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method at 200 °C with Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The characterization of the photocatalyst was conducted using advanced techniques such as X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemical analysis. These characterization methods confirmed the material's morphology, structural integrity, and optical and electrochemical properties, thus establishing a solid foundation for its application in pollutant degradation. We evaluated the photocatalyst's effectiveness in degrading TCE, and it exhibited remarkable degradation efficiency, achieving 100% degradation in 10 hours, with a rate constant of 0.37 h⁻¹, consistent with pseudo-first-order kinetics. To further enhance the degradation kinetics, we explored optimization techniques, including the development of a Bi₂Sn₂O₇/BiVO₄ heterojunction photocatalyst. This innovative combination seeks to leverage a synergistic effect that could significantly accelerate the degradation rate of TCE. The promising results from our research not only position this photocatalyst as an effective solution for TCE remediation but also suggest its potential application in degrading other persistent organic pollutants. By addressing these environmental challenges, our work contributes to broader efforts in environmental protection and sustainability.
