Highly effective photocatalytic system comprising semiconductor photocatalyst and supported bimetallic non-photocatalyst for selective reduction of nitrate to nitrogen in water

Photocatalytic reduction of NO3− under UV irradiation in the presence of ethanol was carried out in the presence of semiconductor photocatalyst Pt/TiO2 and supported bimetallic non-photocatalyst Sn–Pd/Al2O3, which were dispersed in water. This system effectively and selectively promoted the photocatalytic reduction of NO3− to N2, whereas Pt/TiO2 or Sn–Pd/Al2O3 alone showed no or little activity under the reaction conditions. The decomposition rate of NO3− and selectivity to gaseous nitrogen compounds (mainly N2) for the present photocatalytic system were higher than those for TiO2 photocatalyst directly-modified with Sn–Pd particles.

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► Pt/TiO2–Sn-Pd/Al2O3 effectively promoted photocatalytic reduction of NO3–.
► H2 was formed by photoreduction of water over Pt/TiO2.
► Formed H2 was consumed to reduce NO3– over Sn-Pd/Al2O3.