Hydrothermal synthesis of 3D cauliflower anatase TiO ₂ and bio sourced activated carbon: adsorption and photocatalytic activity in real water matrices

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The development of advanced photocatalyst for the complete and sustainable removal of emerging organic pollutants such as pharmaceuticals in wastewater is still challenging. Thus, a new three-dimensional cauliflower of TiO2 immobilised on a bio sourced activated carbon (AC/3D-TiO2) was successfully synthesised by a hydrothermal method. Its morphological and physicochemical properties were well-characterised with a pure 3D-TiO2 anatase phase, a high surface area (763 m2.g−1) and a cauliflower-shaped morphology composed of TiO2 tubes in a radial direction at a micrometric scale. 3D-TiO2-AC photocatalytic activity on carbamazepine (CBZ), in water showed that around 90% of CBZ elimination is obtained after 4 h of exposure, that is 1.5 times more efficient than commercial TiO2 P25. This was confirmed on five pharmaceuticals (CBZ, ketoprofen, sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin and diclofenac) by measuring their adsorption, elimination, and mineralisation in wastewater highlighting the promising application of AC/3D-TiO2 in the treatment of wastewaters.