Evaluation of TiO2 and SnO supported on graphene oxide (TiO2-GO and SnO-GO) photocatalysts for treatment of hospital wastewater

Abstract

The effectiveness of two photocatalysts, TiO2 and SnO, supported on graphene oxide (TiO2-GO and SnO-GO) on the removal of organic matter from hospital wastewater effluent was evaluated at laboratory scale. The results of the experimental design allow us to conclude that variables such as catalyst type and catalyst concentration have a significant effect on the organic matter removal efficiency of the photocatalytic process. The highest levels of removal efficiencies-for chemical oxygen demand, 85%, for phenols, 80%, and for dissolved organic carbon, 94%-were achieved using a TiO2-GO catalyst with a concentration in the wastewater of 1.5 g/L.