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

非技术描述：该提案旨在解决墨西哥湾石油钻井平台爆炸造成的石油泄漏的清理需要。所提出的方法是一种快速、直接和经济的解决方案，涉及新颖的、活性的、基于陶瓷纳米材料的系统，该系统在暴露于太阳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和人类和动物福利安全的良性成分。这项工作将提供新的知识，说明如何利用太阳辐射来清除有机物污染，这些污染很难在合理的时间范围内以有限的资源通过其他手段进行补救，并将培训学生和公众有效应对保护环境和维持生活质量的迫切需要。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）及其分解为生态友好成分，通过使用在可见光范围内吸收太阳辐射的氧化物光催化剂，快速有效地清理墨西哥湾的石油泄漏。本文介绍了一种新型的CuO/WO 3体系三维纳米网格的合成方法。其目标是分解溢油模拟物（如海水中的苯）;将对实际含有溢油的水样进行评估。还将探索用于大面积水面修复的自支撑“光催化屏”的原型。培训学生掌握用于补救技术的最先进陶瓷材料是该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.