Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Simultaneous Water Purification and Pollutant Removal

Research conducted at Beijing Forestry University has yielded a novel composite material that can harness solar energy to purify water and remove pollutants concurrently. The TiO/g-CN/PPy@MS (TGP@MS) composite demonstrates exceptional hydrophilicity, broad-spectrum light absorption, and superior catalytic activity. By incorporating polysized phenylamine onto TiO/g-CN, the material achieves an absorption rate of 91.6% across the solar spectrum range of 300-1200 nm. Under one sun condition, the composite achieves an evaporation rate of 1.49 kg/(m·h) and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 89.4%.

Key Takeaways:

• The TGP@MS composite material was fabricated to harvest water and mitigate tylosin from wastewater concurrently through a coupled process of solar-driven evaporation and photocatalysis.
• The material presents exceptional hydrophilicity, broad-spectrum light absorption, and superior catalytic activity, making it an effective solution for simultaneous water recovery and pollutant removal.
• Incorporating polysized phenylamine onto TiO/g-CN enhanced infrared light absorption, extending the light absorption across the full solar spectrum range.
• The 3D porous structure and hydrophilic nature of the hydrogel sponge facilitated capillary-driven water transport to surfaces.
• Under one sun condition, the composite achieved an evaporation rate of 1.49 kg/(m·h) and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 89.4%.
• Active species including ·OH and O were generated from the TiO/g-CN components, degrading 90% of tylosin within 150 minutes.
• The TGP@MS composite demonstrated significant potential in addressing the water crisis in underdeveloped areas by simultaneously producing clean water and mitigating pollutants from low-quality water sources using green and sustainable solar energy.

Statistics:

• 91.6% - absorption rate of the TGP@MS composite across the solar spectrum range of 300-1200 nm
• 1.49 kg/(m·h) - evaporation rate of the composite under one sun condition
• 89.4% - photothermal conversion efficiency of the composite under one sun condition
• 150 minutes - time required to degrade 90% of tylosin using the TGP@MS composite
• 127717 - article number of the related research paper in the Journal of Environmental Management

Sources:

• Journal of Environmental Management, 2025; 394: 127717
• Solar-driven interfacial evaporation and simultaneously photocatalytic mitigation of tylosin by using a hydrogel sponge-supported semiconductor composite. Journal of Environmental Management can be contacted at: Academic Press Ltd- Elsevier Science Ltd, 24-28 Oval Rd, London NW1 7DX, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Journal of Environmental Management - www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-environmental-management/)
• Yiran Hu, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.