Enhanced biological nitrate removal by gC3N4/TiO2 composite and role of extracellular polymeric substances

The biological denitrification in the presence of gC3N4 doped TiO2 composite was investigated through series of batch experiment. gC3N4 doped TiO2 was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM-EDAX and the prepared composite used as electron donor for the enhancement biological denitrification. The role of extracellular polymeric substances in the biological nitrate reduction and electron transfer process has been elucidated. The XRD result confirms that TiO2 nanoparticle has 80% anatase and 20% rutile phase. The gC3N4 shows the diffraction peaks at 27.57°, corresponds to the diffraction planes of (002) the hexagonal graphitic carbon nitride. The SEM image of modified gC3N4/TiO2 nanocomposites showed agglomerated small spherical TiO2 nanoparticles attached on the surface of gC3N4. The highest level of nitrate removal was 90% (from 100 mg/L to 10 mg/L nitrate) in gC3N4/TiO2 nanocomposite in the 15% wt TiO2 doped gC3N4. The nitrate reduction in the biofilm with gC3N4 doped TiO2 composite have significantly enhanced the nitrate reduction than the control. Photoexcited electrons were generated from gC3N4 doped TiO2 photocatalyst act as excellent electron donor to the microbial communities. Extracellular polymeric substances acted as a passing media for microbial extracellular electron transfer and protective barrier for microbes. The electroactive microbes were harvested electrons from the gC3N4 doped TiO2 composite under irradiation and enhancing the biological nitrate reduction. Overall, the present study suggests that insight into the mechanism of photoexcited electron facilitated biological nitrate reduction and role of extracellular polymeric substances. The successful integration of gC3N4 doped TiO2 photocatalyst and biofilm is a promising technology for nitrate removal.