The growing presence of environmentally significant pollutants exacerbates the global shortage of clean water in Europe and worldwide. The new EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (2024/3019) introduces stricter requirements, mandating the effective removal of a wide spectrum of micro‑pollutants to protect water resources and enable their safe reuse.
Advanced Oxidation Processes
Among modern purification methods, particular importance is given to advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), including heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation and photocatalytic ozonation. Although these processes, carried out under mild conditions using UV or visible light, effectively break down pollutants through reactive oxygen species (ROS), they still face certain challenges — such as the low solubility of ozone, high energy costs, and the risk of generating undesirable reaction by-products.
The Role of Eutectic Composites
These issues can be addressed through innovative photocatalysts based on eutectic composites, developed in collaboration with the ENSEMBLE3 Centre of Excellence — a global leader in producing such materials. The project focuses on the precise control of oxygen vacancies (crystal lattice defects), enabling a shift from conventional radical oxidation pathways to more selective non‑radical mechanisms. These rely on highly reactive atomic oxygen, singlet oxygen, and direct electron transfer, reducing the formation of secondary products and improving resistance to complex wastewater matrices.
Project Objective: “Investigation of Non‑Radical Mechanisms in Photocatalytic Ozonation by Controlling Oxygen Vacancies in Eutectic Photocatalytic Materials”
The project’s main goal is to develop, systematically synthesize, and optimize these advanced materials by modifying oxygen defects to enhance ozone adsorption. Through additional functionalization and modification, catalytically active Magnéli phases will be produced, influencing gas–liquid–solid phase interactions.
Comprehensive studies of the mechanism and kinetics will enable a full understanding of the relationships between defects and catalytic performance. The project aims to expand knowledge of photodegradation mechanisms, supporting the principles of the circular economy by improving water reuse potential and protecting natural resources.
The project is funded by the National Science Centre under the Sonata Bis 15 programme, with a total value of nearly PLN 4 million.
Prof. dr hab. inż.
