Biodegradation of cotton fabric impregnated with TiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

Commercial P25 TiO 2 nanoparticles are widely exploited as an efficient photocatalyst. In the textile domain, these nanoparticles are used for the production of self-cleaning, highly UV protective textiles, with an antimicrobial activity. The disposed textile products may end up in a landfill where they are subjected to the biodegradation process. Considering the importance of the later, this study discusses the biodegradation behaviour of cotton fabric impregnated with commercial P25 TiO 2 nanoparticles. Photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 nanoparticles immobilized on cotton fabric was proved by the photodegradation of dyes C.I. Acid Orange 7 and methylene blue in aqueous solution. Biodegradation of fabrics was assessed by soil burial test in periods of 3, 9 and 18 days. Chemical and morphological changes induced by biodegradation were analyzed by FTIR, SEM and EDS. A colour of the samples gradually changed from white to yellow/brown due to rotting. SEM analysis revealed a severe destruction of the control and impregnated cotton fibres after 18 days of soil burial which was in line with visual appearance of completely damaged fabrics. The results confirmed that biodegradation behaviour of both the control and impregnated sample was equivalent, indicating that P25 TiO 2 nanoparticles did not inhibit the biodegradation process of cellulose.

Progress on the nanoscale spherical TiO2 photocatalysts: Mechanisms, synthesis and degradation applications

“…Despite nanoscale spherical TiO 2 has many irreplaceable advantages in photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, there are many difficulties in the practical application of PCO processes) (i) Suitable immobilization of nanoscale spherical TiO 2 . [ 242 ] Despite nanoscale spherical TiO 2 is widely used, the nanoscale spherical TiO 2 is generally a powder, and the powder catalyst has some disadvantages such as easy agglomeration, difficult separation, and recovery, which greatly affects the commercialization of nanoscale spherical TiO 2 ; therefore, it is necessary to select the appropriate nanoscale spherical TiO 2 carrier, [ 243 ] on the one hand, to facilitate the liquid‐solid separation after the photocatalysis reaction, on the other hand, it should be ensured that the photocatalyst is in full contact with the reaction substrate, and at the same time, TiO 2 can decompose the organic matters, which is regarded as the non‐solid carrier. [ 244 ] (ii) Improve the quantum yield of nanoscale spherical TiO 2 .…”

Enhanced Photocatalytic Properties of PET Filaments Coated with Ag-N Co-Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles Sensitized with Disperse Blue Dyes

“…To take full use of TiO 2 and recycle particulate TiO 2 from water, the flexible textile materials were employed as the support to deposit Ag doped TiO 2 by using different techniques, including layer-by-layer spraying [23], electrospun [24], sol-gel and spinning [25], hydrothermal synthesis [26], photochemical reduction [27] and wet-spinning process [28]. A wide range of textile based photocatalysts were developed by coating Ag doped TiO 2 nanoparticles onto various fiber substrates, including wool [29], glass [30], PAN [31], polyethylene terephthalate (PET) [32], carbon [33], palygorskite [34] and cotton [35], to impart the UV-protective [36], anti-bacteria [37], self-cleaning [38] and pollution removal [39] properties. It was reported that the introduction of polyoxometalate (POM) species could not only improve the light adsorption and redox activity of TiO 2 but also promote the photochemical stability of the plasmonic TiO 2 composites because of the relatively narrow band gap and low reversible redox potential of polyoxoanion [40].…”