Title: Nanohybrid LDH/GCN structures with conductive polymers: an innovative solution for photocatalytic water purification from estrogens in a flow-through reactor
Duration: 2026
Principal Investigator: Anna Jędras
Supervisor: Jakub Matusik
Funding agency: National Science Centre (Poland)
Project ID: Preludium 24

Steroidal estrogens, including estrone (E1) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), are highly potent endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) that persist in aquatic environments due to their insufficient removal by conventional wastewater treatment processes. Even at trace concentrations, these compounds pose serious risks to ecosystems and human health, highlighting the urgent need for advanced and sustainable treatment technologies.

This project aims to develop a visible-light-driven photocatalytic system for the efficient degradation of steroidal estrogens under dynamic flow conditions. The core of the proposed approach is an advanced Ag-modified Zn/Cr layered double hydroxide (LDH) / graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) heterostructure, engineered to enhance charge separation, visible-light absorption, and photocatalytic efficiency. The synergistic integration of GCN, LDH, and silver loading enables effective photodegradation of estrogenic pollutants while addressing common limitations related to catalyst activity and stability.

To ensure applicability under realistic conditions and facilitate catalyst recovery, the photocatalysts will be immobilized in polymeric beads composed of alginate, polypyrrole, and polysulfone, providing high porosity, electrical conductivity, and chemical resistance. The beads will be evaluated in a continuous-flow packed-bed photoreactor, enabling controlled hydrodynamics, improved mass transfer, and scalable operation.

Beyond degradation efficiency, the project will investigate transformation products and reaction mechanisms using HPLC–QMS, supported by Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations to elucidate degradation pathways and assess intermediate stability. The outcomes will deliver a scalable, reusable, and environmentally friendly photocatalytic technology for the removal of persistent EDCs, contributing to the advancement of sustainable water treatment solutions.