Ag–TiO2 doped photo catalytic degradation of Procion blue H-B dye in textile washwater

The photocatalytic degradation of Procion blue H-B dye in biodegraded textile washwater has been investigated for the complete removal of color and maximum reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Pseudomonas putida was utilized for obtaining biodegraded textile washwater. In this process, silver-doped TiO₂ photocatalyst was prepared and experiments were carried out to study the effects of UV and mercury lamp irradiations on COD reduction and removal of color. The thus prepared silver-doped TiO₂ catalyst was characterized by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, UV-visible spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and BET surface area techniques. Adsorption studies were also carried out to evaluate the fitness of isotherm models. The results show that the silver-doped TiO₂ has enhanced the photodegradation of Procion blue H-B dye under UV and mercury lamp irradiations. The enhanced activity of silver-doped TiO₂ is due to the enrichment of electron–hole separation by electron trapping of silver particles.     

Solar photocatalytic decomposition of two azo dyes on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> composites

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/TiO₂ composite photocatalysts with high photoactivity were prepared by sol-gel process and further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and UV-vis absorption spectra. Compared to pure TiO₂, the combination of MWCNTs with titania could cause a significant absorption shift toward the visible region. The photocatalytic performances of the MWCNTs/TiO₂ composite catalysts were evaluated for the decomposition of Reactive light yellow K-6G (K-6G) and Mordant black 7 (MB 7) azo dyes solution under solar light irradiation. The results showed that the addition of MWCNTs enhanced the adsorption and photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ for the degradation of azo dyes K-6G and MB 7. The effect of MWCNTs content, catalyst dosage, pH, and initial dye concentration were examined as operational parameters. The kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of two dyes was found to follow a pseudo-first-order rate law. The photocatalyst was used for seven cycles with photocatalytic degradation efficiency still higher than 98%. A plausible mechanism is also proposed and discussed on the basis of experimental results.     

Toxicity of nano-anatase TiO2 to mice: Liver injury,oxidative stress

There are concerns regarding the toxicity of nano-TiO₂, but data are limited on the mechanism underlying oxidative damage to liver of mice. In order to further study these mechanisms of nano-TiO₂ particles, nano-anatase TiO₂ (5 nm) were injected into the abdominal cavity of ICR mice daily for 14 days and biochemical parameters in liver were investigated. The increase of hepatic lipids peroxide produced by nano-anatase TiO₂ suggested an oxidative attack that was activated by a reduction of antioxidative defense mechanisms as measured by analyzing the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as antioxidant levels such as glutathione and ascorbic acid. The antioxidative responses of liver were reduced in mice by nano-anatase TiO₂. The oxidative stress of nano-anatase TiO₂ on liver was greater than that seen with bulk-TiO₂.     

Photocatalytic mineralization of a water pollutant,Sunset Yellow dye by an advanced oxidation process using a modified catalyst

ZnS-loaded TiO₂ (ZnS–TiO₂) was synthesized by a sol–gel method. The catalyst was characterized by using different techniques (XRD, HR-SEM, EDS, DRS, PL, XPS, and BET methods). The photocatalytic activity of ZnS–TiO₂ was investigated for the degradation of Sunset Yellow FCF (SY) dye in an aqueous solution using ultraviolet light. ZnS–TiO₂ is found to be more efficient than prepared TiO₂, TiO₂–P25, TiO₂ (Merck), and ZnS at pH 7 for the mineralization of SY. The effects of operational parameters such as the amount of photocatalyst, dye concentration, and initial pH on photo mineralization of SY have been analyzed. The mineralization of SY has been confirmed by chemical oxygen demand measurements. The catalyst is found to be reusable.     

Evaluation of environmental stress by comet assay on freshwater snail Lymnea luteola L. exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles

The use of aquatic organisms to monitor for contamination is well-established. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the adverse effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NP) in freshwater snail Lymnea luteola L. (L. luteola). For TiO₂NPs ecotoxicity tests, snails were exposed for seven days. A dose and time-response relationship was observed for TiO₂NP-induced genotoxicity. Induction of oxidative stress in digestive gland was observed by a decrease in glutathione and gluthathions-S-transferase levels accompanied by elevated malondialdehyde levels at TiO₂NP (9 and 28 µg/mL). Superoxide dismutase activities were markedly reduced at TiO₂NP (9 and 28 µg/mL) at days 1 and 3, but not at day 7. Catalase activities were decreased at days 1 and 3 but increased at higher concentration of TiO₂NP at day 7. DNA fragmentation occurring in L. luteola due to ecotoxic impact TiO₂NP was further substantiated by alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis assay and expressed in terms of percent tail DNA and olive tail moment. The results indicate that the interaction of these TiO₂NP with snail influences the toxicity, which is mediated by oxidative stress in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The measurement of DNA integrity in L. luteola thus provides an early warning signal of contamination of the aquatic ecosystem by TiO₂NP. Data suggest the freshwater snail L. luteola is a potential biomonitor organism.     

Histopathological effects of copper oxide nanoparticles on the gill and intestine of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles

In current research, the combined effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) on the histopathological anomalies of gill and intestine tissues in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were studied. Common carp were exposed to TiO₂ NPs (10.0?mg L^?1), CuO NPs (2.5 and 5.0?mg L^?1), and mixture of TiO₂ NPs (10.0?mg L^?1)?+?CuO NPs (2.5 and 5.0 mg?L^?1) for two periods of exposure (10 and 20 days) and recovery (30 and 40 days). The most common histopathological anomalies in the gill of common carp such as hyperplasia, oedema, curvature, fusion, aneurism, and necrosis were observed. The synergistic effect of co-existing TiO₂ NPs and CuO NPs reduced the length of secondary lamella and increased the diameters of the gill filaments and secondary lamellae. Moreover, the presence of TiO₂ NPs increased the CuO NPs effects on the histopathological anomalies of intestine tissue and the synergistic effect of TiO₂ NPs and CuO mixture leads to an increase in the severity of histopathological lesions such as degeneration, swelling of goblet cells, and necrosis - erosion in the intestine tissue. In conclusion, the presence of TiO₂ NPs increased the toxicity of CuO NPs.     

An electrochemical process that uses an Fe<Superscript>0</Superscript>/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> cathode to degrade typical dyes and antibiotics and a bio-anode that produces electricity

In this study, a new water treatment system that couples (photo-) electrochemical catalysis (PEC or EC) in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) was configured using a stainless-steel (SS) cathode coated with Fe⁰/TiO₂. We examined the destruction of methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline. Fe⁰/TiO₂ was prepared using a chemical reduction-deposition method and coated onto an SS wire mesh (500 mesh) using a sol technique. The anode generates electricity using microbes (bio-anode). Connected via wire and ohmic resistance, the system requires a short reaction time and operates at a low cost by effectively removing 94% MB (initial concentration 20 mg?L^–1) and 83% TOC/TOC₀ under visible light illumination (50 W; 1.99 mW?cm^–2 for 120 min, MFC-PEC). The removal was similar even without light irradiation (MFC-EC). The E _Eo of the MFC-PEC system was approximately 0.675 kWh?m^–3?order^–1, whereas that of the MFC-EC system was zero. The system was able to remove 70% COD in tetracycline solution (initial tetracycline concentration 100 mg?L^–1) after 120 min of visible light illumination; without light, the removal was 15% lower. The destruction of MB and tetracycline in both traditional photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis systems was notably low. The electron spinresonance spectroscopy (ESR) study demonstrated that ?OH was formed under visible light, and ?O ₂ ^– was formed without light. The bio-electricity-activated O₂ and ROS (reactive oxidizing species) generation by Fe⁰/TiO₂ effectively degraded the pollutants. This cathodic degradation improved the electricity generation by accepting and consuming more electrons from the bio-anode.

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Photodegradation of an azo dye by silver-doped nano-particulate titanium dioxide

The synthesis of silver doped nano-particulate titanium dioxide (Ag/TiO₂) using a microemulsion method and an investigation of its photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Acid Red 27 in distilled water under UV-irradiation is reported. The prepared Ag/TiO₂ is characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The size of the Ag nanoparticles is around 5–15?nm, with almost uniform distribution on the TiO₂ particles. The efficiency of the photocatalytic process is evaluated to establish the optimum conditions, found to be at 2?wt% of Ag loading on TiO₂, catalyst dosage of 400?mg?L^?1, and calcination temperature of 300°C. Complete decolorization of the dye solution on Ag/TiO₂ was observed in 20?min of UV irradiation in the optimum conditions.     

Sonocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic in aqueous solution by sonocatalysis

Tetracycline (TC), one of the most common antibiotics, is often poorly bio-degraded in conventional wastewater treatment plants. In this study, the sonocatalytic degradation of TC was investigated using TiO₂ nano-particles as catalyst. The effect of pH, initial TC concentrations, reaction times, and H₂O₂ concentrations were evaluated. The efficacy of ultrasonic irradiation alone in the removal of this pollutant was negligible but removal efficiency increased upon addition of TiO₂ up to 250 mg L^?1; increase of pH and initial TC concentration attenuated TC degradation. Addition of H₂O₂ raised the removal efficiency so that complete removal of TC was achieved within 75 min.     

TiO2 photocatalyzed degradation of diazinon in an aqueous medium

The photocatalytic degradation of diazinon was studied over TiO₂ catalysts. The kinetics obtained demonstrated that powder titania (t_1/2 = 9.7 min) was more efficient compared to pure titania thin film catalysts (t_1/2 = 29.4 min). Mineralization of organic carbon to CO₂ after 360 min of irradiation was found to be 75% while heteroatoms (P, S, N) were mineralized into phosphate, sulfate and nitrate ions, respectively. A microtox test was performed to evaluate the toxicity of solutions treated by catalysts. Illumination of diazinon in the presence of TiO₂ gave rise to several intermediates that have been identified by means of solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, while a simple degradation pathway is proposed.     

Nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2)-induced changes affecting Cu2+-mediated alterations in bacterium Bacillus subtilis and α-amylase

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles possess the potential to coexist with Copper (Cu²⁺) in soil. The individual and combined toxicity of these two chemicals was evaluated using the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, a known soil model bacterium. Cu²⁺ (6.25–50?µg?mL^?1) alone produced toxicity to bacteria as evidenced by the decreased cell viability and deceased α-amylase production. The addition of TiO₂ (50?mg?mL^?1) enhanced the Cu²⁺-induced decrease in cell viability but elevated amylase activity. TiO₂ did not markedly affect the growth rate and lag period. A primary cause of TiO₂ increasing Cu²⁺ toxicity is presumed to be associated with hydroxyl radical formation, while increased amylase activity is considered to arise from Cu²⁺ facilitating TiO₂ degradation ability.     

Solar photocatalytic degradation of the herbicide isoproturon on a Bi–TiO2/zeolite photocatalyst

The photocatalytic degradation of the herbicide isoproturon under solar light was investigated in aqueous solution containing a Bi–TiO₂/zeolite photocatalyst. The catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of Bi–TiO₂ loading onto the zeolite support and influence of the parameters such as catalyst amount, pH, and initial concentration of isoproturon on the degradation rate were evaluated. The recycling ability of the catalyst was found to be sustainable for elongated periods. The high activity of the Bi–TiO₂/zeolite was attributed to its absorptivity of visible light and its high adsorption capacity for the pollutant molecules.     

Decolorisation of Acid Blue 74 by ultraviolet/H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The photodegradation of Acid blue 74 in aqueous solution employing a H₂O₂/ultraviolet system in a photochemical reactor was investigated. The kinetics of decolorization were studied by application of a kinetic model. The results show that the reaction of decolorization followed pseudo-first order kinetics. We demonstrate that there is an optimum H₂O₂ concentration, at which the rate of the decolorization reaction is maximum. Irradiation at 253.7 nm of the dye solution in the presence of H₂O₂ results in complete discoloration after ten minutes of treatment.     

Modified titanium oxide (TiO2) nanocomposites and its array of applications: a review

Titania (TiO₂) has been the focus of attention of researchers since the first demonstration of its capability to generate the photocatalytic splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen. However, there seems to be a recent surge in the research activity, involving modified TiO₂ nanoparticles (NP), which are considered to be more effective due to different physicochemical properties in comparison to unmodified fine particle analogs. Several strategies have been employed to modify TiO₂ to reduce recombination rates of photogenerated charge carriers to enhance the optimal functioning of TiO₂. Doping with cations and anions and coupling it with another semiconductor are the most well-known modification methods used. Titania nanocomposites are known to have a plethora of applications. Photoexcitation of these particles are seen to be extraordinarily effective in eliciting microbial death which makes it an attractive candidate for the manufacturing of antimicrobial coatings. On the other hand, TiO₂ induces the oxidation of various organic refractory compounds like tetracycline, sulfamethazine, and bisphenol. The photo-electrocatalytic oxidation technique which amalgamates the principle of photocatalysis and electrolysis serves as a newer, unswerving, and cost effective water treatment process. In the biomedical arena, use is now acknowledged for the photodynamic therapy of cancer, cell imaging, biological sensors, drug delivery system, and as endonucleases. In the commercial front, it is utilized in creams owing to its small particle size, which facilitates absorption through skin. It is also employed as ultraviolet blocking agents in sunscreen and commonly encountered as a brilliant white pigment in paint due to its brightness, high refractive index and resistance to discoloration. Its use in solar cells has also been reported. This review aims to encompass the new progress of modified TiO2 nanocomposites for efficient applications, emphasizing the future trends of TiO2 in arenas like healthcare, environment, biomedical, food, personal care, and pharmacy and also highlights the commercial implications of this promising nanomaterial.     

Cytotoxicity and cell membrane depolarization induced by aluminum oxide nanoparticles in human lung epithelial cells A549

The cytotoxicity of 13 and 22 nm aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles was investigated in cultured human bronchoalveolar carcinoma-derived cells (A549) and compared with 20 nm CeO₂ and 40 nm TiO₂ nanoparticles as positive and negative control, respectively. Exposure to both Al₂O₃ nanoparticles for 24 h at 10 and 25 µg mL^?1 doses significantly decreased cell viability compared with control. However, the cytotoxicity of 13 and 22 nm Al₂O₃ nanoparticles had no difference at 5–25 µg mL^?1 dose range. The cytotoxicity of both Al₂O₃ nanoparticles were higher than negative control TiO₂ nanoparticles but lower than positive control CeO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂ < Al₂O₃ < CeO₂). A real-time single cell imaging system was employed to study the cell membrane potential change caused by Al₂O₃ and CeO₂ nanoparticles using a membrane potential sensitive fluorescent probe DiBAC₄(3). Exposure to the 13 nm Al₂O₃ nanoparticles resulted in more significant depolarization than the 30 nm Al₂O₃ particles. On the other hand, the 20 nm CeO₂ particles, the most toxic, caused less significant depolarization than both the 13 and 22 nm Al₂O₃. Factors such as exposure duration, surface chemistry, and other mechanisms may contribute differently between cytotoxicity and membrane depolarization.     

Photo- and electro-catalysis for solar disinfection of Escherichia coli-contaminated water using Ag–TiO2/graphite

A titanium dioxide film on a graphite substrate was synthesized by chemical bath deposition from TiCl₄ as precursor and with the surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as a linking and assembling agent. Silver was loaded on the TiO₂ film by electrodeposition at 0.025?A. Water contaminated with Escherichia coli was disinfected under sunlight irradiation by photolysis (Lys), photocatalysis (PC), photoelectrocatalysis (PEC), and electrocatalysis (EC). The highest rate constant, k, was achieved with EC; k was 5.1?×?10^?2 colony forming units (CFU) mL^?1?min^?1. However, auto-oxidation of Ag occurred during EC and PEC. Meanwhile, the rate constant of disinfection by means of PC was lower than EC and PEC, and k was 3.82?×?10^?2 CFU?mL^?1?min^?1. Nevertheless, the auto-oxidation of Ag in the Ag–TiO₂/graphite tablet did not occur during the disinfection process.     

Photocatalytic oxidation of the textile dye basic red 18 with irradiated titanium dioxide

One of the major problems of textile wastewater is the presence of dye materials, because colour is visible to the public even if the dye concentration is lower than other pollutants, and needs therefore to be removed from the wastewater before it is discharged. Techniques based on “advanced oxidative processes” such as photocatalysed oxidation seem to be very promising for industrial wastewater treatment, especially for decolourization of textile effluents. In this work, we describe the photocatalytic degradation of the textile dye Basic Red 18 (BR 18) in aqueous solution using two different types of TiO₂ as photocatalyst: Degussa P25 (80% anatase) and Framitalia (100% anatase). Photooxidation of BR 18 was followed by HPLC analysis, and kinetic parameters were evaluated in order to optimise the treatment procedure. The results obtained in this work showed that the colour became virtually zero and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) is strongly reduced at the end of the treatment. The obtained results are compared with the efficiency of decolourization using the H₂O₂/UV System. Finally, marine mussel test was used to evaluate the efficiency of photocatalytic oxidation with TiO₂ in terms of ecotoxicity. A significant reduction of cumulative mortality was observed for the treated effluent.     

Photocatalytic degradation of phenol with mesoporous TiO2?xBx

We report a facile approach for preparing mesoporous boron-doped TiO₂ materials by combining the sol?Cgel process with the dehydration of glucose. Specifically a high surface carbon material was formed by dehydration of glucose, then used as template. This material and the TiO₂ dry gel were calcinated to produce porous TiO₂. The as-synthesized boron-doped TiO₂ was in pure anatase crystallite phase with high surface area. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results showed that boron was incorporated into the anatase TiO₂ lattice to form TiO_2?xB_x. The absorption spectra of TiO_2?xB_x extended into the visible region to 460?nm. The TiO_2?xB_x exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity on phenol degradation than pure TiO₂. It showed that the phenol degradation by-products of TiO_2?xB_x were different from that of pure TiO₂. Mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation of phenol at TiO_2?xB_x was also proposed.     

Photocatalytic formation of hydrogen peroxide over highly porous illuminated ZnO and TiO2thin film

The photocatalytic formation of hydrogen peroxide over ZnO and TiO₂thin films has been investigated in aqueous phase in the presence of molecular oxygen as an electron acceptor. These films are highly porous and showed enhanced catalytic activity in the photochemical formation of hydrogen peroxide. The amount of H₂O₂formed during 2 hour light illumination is 4–6 μM and the rates of formation of hydrogen peroxide of both the films are almost comparable. The yield of hydrogen peroxide increases with the increase in irradiation time and a trend of steady state concentration of H₂O₂is observed in the case of TiO₂thin film. Photodissolution of ZnO particles is observed in some extent during the process of prolonged UV light illumination.