WATER DECONTAMINATION BY SUNLIGHT-DRIVEN FLOATING
PHOTOCATALYTIC SYSTEMS

One of the main issues of photocatalysis is to avoid the dispersion of catalyst powders in the water medium. The SUNFLOAT project aims to tackle this issue by the use of self-floating materials as supports for the photocatalyst. The project aims to develop floating-photocatalysts that can float at the water-air interface maximizing pollutant degradation performance by an efficient light utilization.

By our approach, the loss of catalyst can be minimized and the floating device could be easily recovered, regenerated, and reused.

In order to create these promising materials, we are going to follow a strategic plan, made up by 6 steps:

1. Development of a synthesis protocol of a highly active photocatalyst, even in visible light, and efficient in mineralization to specific pollutant molecules. The synthesis must be easily scalable on pilot and industrial production and at the same time affordable,
2. full physicochemical characterization of materials by means of traditional and innovative techniques.
3. Development of photocatalyst deposition protocols on floating supports.
4. Development of a prototype able to treat five liters of contaminated water a day.
5. Laboratory tests with simulated contaminated water (containing pesticides, drugs, wastes from industrial processes and dyes) using a solar lamp as energy source. Detailed investigation of the byproducts formed.
6. Application of the SUNFLOAT device in the remediation of real basins water (Brazil and India) using solar light.