Unlocking sustainable water treatment: the potential of piezoelectric-activated persulfate

(Press-News.org) As cities grow bigger and faster, water pollution is becoming a serious problem. We need good ways to clean the water. Traditional cleaning methods, Persulfate (PS)- Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), are good at treating the bad stuff in the water, but they require a lot of energy and chemicals, like special light and metals ions. This is costly and environmentally harmful. It's urgent to find better and more eco-friendly ways to clean it.

In a recent study published in Volume 18 of the journal Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, scientists from Jinan University discuss a new, eco-friendly way to clean water. They've discovered a method called "piezoelectric activation of PS." This technique uses special materials that create piezoelectricity when they are squeezed or pressed, thereby cleaning the water. What's really cool is that this squeezing can come from natural things like wind, ocean waves, or river currents. So, it doesn't need extra energy, making it a very green and efficient way to make water safe.

The research on piezoelectric/PS-AOPs is about finding new ways to clean water using a special process. This process uses materials that can generate the piezoelectricity when they are pressed or squeezed. This piezoelectricity is then used to activate a chemical called persulfate, which helps break down harmful substances in the water. Scientists are working with different materials like BaTiO₃, ZnO, and MoS₂ to make this process better. They face challenges like not getting enough energy from the materials and slow movement of electrons, but they're improving the materials to solve these problems. They're also exploring using natural forces like wind and water flow to power this process, which is a sustainable and eco-friendly approach. This new technology could do more than just clean water; it could also turn the bad substances in the water into useful things. This makes it a really promising way to clean water in environmental remediation. As research goes on, this method could become a major way to treat water and control pollution, using renewable energy and being kind to the environment. Dr. Mingshan Zhu, a leading researcher in the field, emphasized the significance of this development: "Piezoelectric activation of persulfate represents a paradigm shift in water treatment technology. It not only addresses the efficiency and environmental concerns associated with traditional methods but also opens up new pathways for using renewable energy sources."

This exciting method is transforming the way we purify water. It's environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and highly effective at combating water pollution. Representing a significant leap towards a cleaner and healthier planet, this technique doesn't just enhance water cleanliness; it plays a substantial role in environmental protection. It's a comprehensive approach to making our world a better place.

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References

DOI

10.1016/j.ese.2023.100329

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.2023.100329

Funding information

The National Science Foundation of China (22322604 and 22006052); The Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2020B1515020038); The Pearl River Talent Recruitment Program of Guangdong Province (2019QN01L148).

About Environmental Science and Ecotechnology

Environmental Science and Ecotechnology (ISSN 2666-4984) is an international, peer-reviewed, and open-access journal published by Elsevier. The journal publishes significant views and research across the full spectrum of ecology and environmental sciences, such as climate change, sustainability, biodiversity conservation, environment & health, green catalysis/processing for pollution control, and AI-driven environmental engineering. The latest impact factor of ESE is 12.6, according to the Journal Citation ReportTM 2022.

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