RAPID: Metal Oxide Nanogrids as Photocatalysts for the Decomposition of Oil in Water

非技术描述：本提案旨在解决墨西哥湾石油钻井平台爆炸造成的溢油清理需求。所提出的方法是一种快速、直接和经济的解决方案，涉及到新型的、活性的、基于陶瓷纳米材料的系统，该系统在太阳照射下可以利用太阳辐射的巨大可见光谱，从而快速有效地将水中的原油分解成对环境、对人类和动物福利都安全的良性成分。这项工作将提供新的知识，让我们了解如何利用太阳辐射来清除有机物的污染，这些污染在有限的资源和合理的时间内很难用其他方法修复，并将训练学生和公众有效地应对保护环境和维持生活质量的迫切需要。技术细节：拟议的研究涉及基于氧化物的光辅助氧化有机污染物（盐水中的原油）并将其分解为环保成分，通过使用吸收可见太阳辐射范围的氧化物光催化剂，以快速有效地清洁墨西哥湾的溢油。本文介绍了一种新型的CuO/WO3体系三维纳米网格的合成方法。它的目标用途是分解石油泄漏模拟物（如海水中的苯）；将对实际的溢油水样进行评估。还将探索用于大面积水面修复的自支撑“光催化屏幕”的原型。培训学生掌握最先进的陶瓷材料修复技术是本项目的一个重要方面。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: This proposal aims to address the need for cleaning the oil spill caused by an explosion of an oil-rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed method is a rapid, straightforward, and economic solution to this problem involving novel, active, ceramic-nano-materials based systems which under exposure to the sun may take advantage of the vast visible spectrum of solar irradiation thus breaking down crude oil in water quickly and effectively into benign constituents that are safe for the environment and for the human and animal welfare. This work will provide new knowledge on how to use solar irradiation to clean-up contamination from organics that would be difficult to remediate by other means in a reasonable time frame with limited resources, and will train students and the public alike in responding effectively to an urgent need to protect the environment and sustain the quality of life.TECHNICAL DETAILS: The proposed research involves oxide-based photoassisted oxidation of organic pollutants (crude oil in salt water) and their decomposition to eco-friendly constituents, through the use of oxide photocatalysts that absorb in the visible range of solar radiation, for the fast and effective cleaning of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The novel synthesis of 3D nanogrids of the CuO/WO3 system is described in this work. Its targeted use to decompose oil spills simulants (such as benzene in sea water); actual oil spill-containing water samples will be evaluated. Prototyping of self-supported 'photocatalytic screens' for the remediation of large areas of water surface will be also explored. Training of students in state-of-the-art ceramic materials for remediation technologies is an important aspect of this project.