Advanced photocatalytic strategies for nitrate nitrogen removal using optimized Ag-TiO2 photocatalysts

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Author list: Boonwan, C.; Rojviroon, T.; Ranjith, R.; Muangmora, R.; Phouheuanghong, P.; Sirivithayapakorn, S.; Rojviroon, O.; Sudpraserat, K.; Kasayapanand, N.; Songprakorp, R.

Publisher: Springer

Publication year: 2025

Volume number: 116

Issue number: 3

Start page: 2188

End page: 2199

Number of pages: 12

ISSN: 0928-0707

eISSN: 1573-4846

URL: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105016746849&doi=10.1007%2Fs10971-025-06919-x&partnerID=40&md5=515022591ca220a3619a2efe546279b9

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

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Abstract

Nitrate contamination poses a severe environmental threat due to its detrimental impact on aquatic ecosystems and human health, necessitating efficient remediation strategies. This study explores the potential of silver-doped titanium dioxide (Ag-TiO2) nanoparticles as an advanced photocatalyst for nitrate removal from wastewater. Ag doping enhances the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 by narrowing its bandgap energy and improving charge carrier separation, thereby facilitating efficient nitrate reduction under ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. The crystalline structure, morphology, oxidation states, and optical properties of the synthesized Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized using various analytical techniques. A series of controlled batch experiments was conducted to investigate the effects of photocatalyst dosage (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g) and initial nitrate concentrations (10, 25, 50, 80, and 100 mg-N/L) on the photocatalytic reduction process. The results indicate that 1.0% Ag-TiO2 exhibits superior nitrate removal efficiency (over 97% within 90 min) compared to undoped TiO2, with predominant conversion to environmentally benign nitrogen gas (N2) and minimal accumulation of undesired byproducts such as nitrite (NO3−) and ammonium ions (NH4+). The enhanced performance is attributed to the plasmonic effect of silver, which extends the light absorption range into the UVA spectrum and suppresses electron-hole recombination. This study highlights the environmental sustainability of Ag-TiO2 as an efficient, photocatalytically active material for nitrate remediation, presenting a promising solution for wastewater treatment applications. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.

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