Abstract

The main aim of the doctoral dissertation was preparation and characterization of photocatalysts, with particular emphasis on modified titanium (IV) oxide photocatalysts, which can be applied for the degradation of organic pollutants not susceptible to biodegradation. A particularly important aspect of the work was the development of preparation method of nanocomposites with the magnetic core-shell and photocatalyst shell (TiO2) structure, photocatalytic active under UV/Vis radiation. The use of the microemulsion method for the preparation of magnetic nanocomposites allowed for the creation of the desired structure, in which the core of the nanocomposite was iron (II) diiron (III), (Fe3O4), covered with a layer of inert silica and TiO2 photocatalyst. The second scientific aspect of the work was to increase the photocatalytic activity of the obtained nanocomposites in UV/Vis light and visible light by modifying the titanium(IV) oxide surface with platinum and copper, as well as introducing titanium defects into the crystal structure of TiO2. The obtained nanocomposites were used for the effective degradation of persistent organic pollutants present in flowback water after the hydraulic fracturing process and carbamazepine, a commonly used antiepileptic drug, classified as a pharmaceutical pollutant of the aquatic environment.

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