Removal of Phthalates from Water by Unconventional La‐based/WO3 Photocatalysts

Abstract La2O2CO3‐WO3 composites were here proposed as unconventional photocatalysts for the removal of phthalates in water. The high sorption properties of the lanthanum dioxide carbonate allowed a strong adsorption of the phthalates which facilitated the following solar photocatalytic degradation, further boosted by the addition of small amounts of WO3 (1 wt%). On the contrary, a higher content of WO3 had a detrimental effect due to the covering of the surface sites of La2O2CO3 that inhibited the adsorption process. This double mechanism of strong adsorption‐photocatalytic oxidation led, after 6 h of solar irradiation, to 67 % and 63 % dimethyl phthalate and di(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate degradation, respectively. The phthalates were degraded to less persistent pollutants that, however, were completely removed after 9 h of irradiation. The La2O2CO3‐WO3 system appears promising for its application in the removal of the emerging contaminants from water.