Tuesday, October 21, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
Environmental Magazine
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Water

Group claims sustainable solution for wastewater polluted by dyes

March 19, 2024
in Water
A A

A new study led by Flinders University appears to reveal a novel way to degrade and potentially remove toxic organic chemicals including azo dyes from wastewater, using a chemical photocatalysis process powered by ultraviolet light.

Professor Gunther Andersson, from the Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology, says the process involves creating metallic ‘clusters’ of just nine gold (Au) atoms chemically ‘anchored’ to titanium dioxide which in turn drives the reaction by converting the energy of absorbed UV light.

The gold nanocluster cocatalysts enhance the photocatalytic work of the titanium dioxide and reduce the time required to complete the reaction by a factor of six, according to a new journal article in Solar RRR.

“These types of heterogeneous semiconductor-mediated photocatalysis systems provide a significant advantage over other advanced chemical processes,” says Professor Andersson, from the College of Science and Engineering.

“It can facilitate the mineralisation of a large range of organic pollutants, like azo dyes, into water and carbon dioxide molecules with a high degradation efficiency.”

A variety of physical, chemical and biological processes are currently used to remove carcinogenic and recalcitrant organic compounds from water.”

A wide range of chemical industries, including dye manufacture, textile and cosmetics production, release toxic and non-biodegradable dyes into the environment. Nearly half of the dyes used in the textile and dye industry are azo dyes. Methyl orange is widely used as a water-soluble azo dye.

With this in mind, the Flinders University nanotech researchers have also demonstrated the usefulness of this gold cluster cocatalyst and modified semiconductors for synthesis of the novel photocatalysis systems for degradation of methyl orange.

This study, just published in Applied Surface Science, tested the photocatalysis in a vortex fluidic device developed at Flinders University in Professor Colin Raston’s nanotechnology laboratory.

Co-author Flinders PhD Dr Anahita Motamedisade says traditional wastewater treatment methods often do not effectively remove dangerous contaminants from wastewater.

“The reason for this is that some chemicals, especially those with aromatic rings, are resistant to chemical, photochemical and biological degradation, says Dr Motamedisade, who is now a research fellow at the Centre for Catalysis and Clean Energy at Grifffith University.

“In addition, they generate dangerous by-products by oxidizing, hydrolysing, or undergoing other chemical reactions of synthetic dyes containing wastewater, which are detectable wherever they are disposed of.

“We hope to build onto these more sustainable and thorough photocatalytic degradation processes to help completely remove the toxins and tackle this global problem.”

The research was inspired by Dr Motamedisade’s PhD research, part funded by Wine Australia, which includes better ways to treat winery wastewater.

ShareTweetSharePinSendShare

Related Articles

Water

Remote cameras enhance visibility of Swiss flood risk

October 20, 2025
Water

Northumbrian Water appoints installation partner for smart metering programme

October 13, 2025
Water

Flooding victims need single trusted line to expert help and clear accountability, MPs recommend

October 13, 2025
Water

Report details staggering extent of water leaks problem, and how real-time monitoring can help

October 10, 2025
Water

Yorkshire Water models sewer data availability

October 7, 2025
Water

Water contamination detection tool shortlisted for national award

October 6, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Conference to address the environmental impact of digitalisation

March 26, 2024

1.5°C Paris target too high for polar ice sheets, says new study

May 20, 2025

Don't miss it

Energy

Solar Growth Cushions Colorado River Hydropower Declines

October 21, 2025
Energy

Renewable Energy Act Before Illinois Legislature Would Decrease Stress on Ratepayers, Advocates Say

October 21, 2025
Fossil Fuels

New England Says Goodbye to Coal as Merrimack Station Powers Down

October 21, 2025
Energy

A New Generation of Industries Emerges in Texas From Federal Push for Mining Revival

October 20, 2025
News

CCC calls on government to urgently raise ambition levels in UK climate adaptation

October 20, 2025
Fossil Fuels

China Helped Indonesia Build One of the World’s Biggest, Youngest Coal Fleets. It’s Still Growing.

October 19, 2025
Environmental Magazine

Environmental Magazine, Latest News, Opinions, Analysis Environmental Magazine. Follow us for more news about Enviroment and climate change from all around the world.

Learn more

Sections

  • Activism
  • Air
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Fossil Fuels
  • News
  • Uncategorized
  • Water

Topics

Activism Air Climate Change Energy Fossil Fuels News Uncategorized Water

Recent News

Solar Growth Cushions Colorado River Hydropower Declines

October 21, 2025

Renewable Energy Act Before Illinois Legislature Would Decrease Stress on Ratepayers, Advocates Say

October 21, 2025

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.