Efficient Mesoporous Semiconductor Materials for Environmental Applications

Wastewater effluents from industry, at times, contain toxic organic chemicals that need to be treated prior to the effluent disposal. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are efficient techniques that can potentially destroy a wide range of organic molecules. The choice of these techniques is based on their great potential for the complete mineralization of organic compounds present in these effluents that is readily explained by the generation of strongly oxidizing free radical intermediates, e.g., hydroxyl radicals. Photocatalysis is one of these AOPs where these radicals are generated on the surface of the illuminated semiconductor particles. Mesoporous metal oxides and mixed metal oxides have been receiving considerable attention in recent years due to their scientifically interesting properties and possible industrial applications in the fields of catalysis, adsorption, separation, ion exchange, and chemical sensing. This chapter covers recent developments in the syntheses of mesoporous semiconductor materials and presents applications of mesoporous semiconductors materials as efficient photocatalysts. The underlying reaction mechanisms will be explained and discussed.