Photoactive polymeric and hybrid systems for photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants

The review presents recent developments in the synthesis of polymeric photosensitizers and hybrid photocatalysts of various physicochemical and photochemical properties and their possible application for the degradation of water pollutants. The mechanisms of their action were presented. Photoactive amphiphilic polymers are selective and mild reagents acting as singlet oxygen generators or via photoinduced electron transfer. They can function independently as nano/micro heterogeneous photosensitizers or as components of the hybrid systems. The hybrid materials are usually dispersed in water and are involved in the generation of very reactive oxygen species, mostly superoxide and hydroxyl radical ions, which can oxidize organic compounds present in water. These systems are generally more photostable than photoactive polymers therefore they may function as photocatalysts. Polymeric and hybrid photocatalysts are especially well-suited for removal of chemical compounds which, although present at low concentrations in water resources, are dangerous due to their bioaccumulation in the food chain and often cannot be removed with the use of currently available technologies. Both photoactive polymeric and hybrid materials can be easily removed from the aqueous media thus the secondary contamination is avoided.