Abstract
Water scarcity is now a serious global issue resulting from population growth, water decrease, and pollution. Traditional wastewater treatment plants are insufficient and cannot meet the basic standards of water quality at reasonable cost or processing time. In this paper we report the preparation, characterization and multiple applications of an efficient photocatalytic nanocomposite (CoxNi1−xFe2O4; x = 0.9/SiO2/TiO2/C-dots) synthesized by a layer-by-layer method. Then, the photocatalytic capabilities of the synthesized nanocomposite were extensively-studied against aqueous solutions of chloramine-T trihydrate. In addition, reaction kinetics, degradation mechanism and various parameters affecting the photocatalytic efficiency (nanocomposite dose, chloramine-T initial concentration, and reaction pH) were analyzed in detail. Further, the antimicrobial activities of the prepared nanocomposite were tested and the effect of UV-activation on the antimicrobial abilities of the prepared nanocomposite was analyzed. Finally, a comparison between the antimicrobial abilities of the current nanocomposite and our previously-reported nanocomposite (CoxNi1−xFe2O4; x = 0.9/SiO2/TiO2) had been carried out. Our results revealed that the prepared nanocomposite possessed a high degree of crystallinity, confirmed by XRD, while UV–Vis. recorded an absorption peak at 299 nm. In addition, the prepared nanocomposite possessed BET-surface area of (28.29 ± 0.19 m2/g) with narrow pore size distribution. Moreover, it had semi-spherical morphology, high-purity and an average particle size of (19.0 nm). The photocatalytic degradation efficiency was inversely-proportional to chloramine-T initial concentration and directly proportional to the photocatalyst dose. In addition, basic medium (pH 9) was the best suited for chloramine-T degradation. Moreover, UV-irradiation improved the antimicrobial abilities of the prepared nanocomposite against E. coli, B. cereus, and C. tropicalis after 60 min. The observed antimicrobial abilities (high ZOI, low MIC and more efficient antibiofilm capabilities) were unique compared to our previously-reported nanocomposite. Our work offers significant insights into more efficient water treatment and fosters the ongoing efforts looking at how pollutants degrade the water supply and the disinfection of water-borne pathogenic microorganisms.
Highlights
Water scarcity is a serious global issue resulting from population growth, water decrease, and pollution
CoxNi1−xFe2O4; x = 0.9/SiO2/TiO2 nanocomposite was prepared using a layer-by-layer approach. It was decorated with carbon dots (C-dots) synthesized using a one-pot hydrothermal method
Chloramine-T trihydrate was used as an example of organic pollutants in water, and many multi-drug-resistant bacteria and pathogenic fungi were employed as common water-borne microorganisms
Summary
Water scarcity is a serious global issue resulting from population growth, water decrease, and pollution. Reaction kinetics, degradation mechanism and various parameters affecting the photocatalytic efficiency (nanocomposite dose, chloramine-T initial concentration, and reaction pH) were analyzed in detail. Most of the available potable water on earth is contaminated with many kinds of pollutants such as organic, inorganic materials, heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms, causing serious d iseases[4,5,6,7] Among these pollutants, chloramine-T is gaining a lot of attention due to its adverse effects on public health, and is seriously threatening the aquatic e nvironment[8,9]. The effect of UV-activation on the antimicrobial abilities of the prepared nanocomposite had been studied
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