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Grant support

This research was funded by the financial support from Spanish MINECO (project CTQ2016-78576-R). M. Penas-Garzon is indebted to Spanish MECD for FPU16/00576 predoctoral contract.

Analysis of institutional authors

Penas-Garzon, ManuelCorresponding AuthorGomez-Aviles, AlmudenaAuthorBedia, JorgeAuthorRodriguez, Juan J.AuthorBelver, CarolinaAuthor

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Article

Effect of Activating Agent on the Properties of TiO2/Activated Carbon Heterostructures for Solar Photocatalytic Degradation of Acetaminophen

Publicated to:Materials. 12 (3): 378- - 2019-02-01 12(3), DOI: 10.3390/ma12030378

Authors: Penas-Garzon, Manuel; Gomez-Aviles, Almudena; Bedia, Jorge; Rodriguez, Juan J; Belver, Carolina

Affiliations

Univ Autonoma Madrid, Fac Ciencias, Dept Ingn Quim, Campus Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain - Author

Abstract

Several activated carbons (ACs) were prepared by chemical activation of lignin with different activating agents (FeCl3, ZnCl2, H3PO4 and KOH) and used for synthesizing TiO2/activated carbon heterostructures. These heterostructures were obtained by the combination of the activated carbons with a titania precursor using a solvothermal treatment. The synthesized materials were fully characterized (Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2 adsorption-desorption, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS) and further used in the photodegradation of a target pharmaceutical compound (acetaminophen). All heterostructures were composed of anatase phase regardless of the activated carbon used, while the porous texture and surface chemistry depended on the chemical compound used to activate the lignin. Among all heterostructures studied, that obtained by FeCl3-activation yielded complete conversion of acetaminophen after 6 h of reaction under solar-simulated irradiation, also showing high conversion after successive cycles. Although the reaction rate was lower than the observed with bare TiO2, the heterostructure showed higher settling velocity, thus being considerably easier to recover from the reaction medium.

Keywords

acetaminophenactivating agentheterostructuresligninsolar photocatalysistio2/activated carbonAcetaminophenActivated carbonActivating agentAdsorptionChemical activationHeterostructuresKohLigninPharmaceuticalsRemovalSolar photocatalysisTechnologiesTio /activated carbon 2Tio2Tio2/activated carbonTreatment plantsWaste-waterWater purification

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Materials due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2019, it was in position 132/314, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Materials Science, Multidisciplinary. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Condensed Matter Physics.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.95. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 5.27 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 5.15 (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-23, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 47
  • Scopus: 59
  • Europe PMC: 15
  • Google Scholar: 62
  • OpenCitations: 56

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-23:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 98 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/687563

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (PEÑAS GARZON, MANUEL) and Last Author (BELVER COLDEIRA, CAROLINA).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been PEÑAS GARZON, MANUEL.