Photocatalytic reduction of nitrate in water

Nitrate is one of the most commonly found compounds in watercourses due to the infinity and diversity of existing sources, whether natural or man-made. Its excess can lead to various health and environmental problems, but cheap and efficient ways of treating water contaminated with nitrate are not yet a reality. One of the ways of remediating aquifers or water sources contaminated with nitrate or nitrite, which can add low cost and efficiency, is the use of photocatalysis, which uses ultraviolet (UV) or visible radiation as an energy source for the degradation of nitrate and nitrite. Focusing on this form of treatment, new photocatalysts were synthesised for the reduction of nitrogenous species such as nitrate and nitrite to molecular nitrogen.