Iranian researchers from the Isfahan University of Technology have developed titanium dioxide nanoparticle films that reduce pollutions caused by textile dyes in a relatively fast manner.
“This research was based on nano-structural composite films of titanium dioxide, as a photocatalyst which is famous for its pollutant degradability characteristic,” Mojtaba Nasr Esfahani, the researcher in chief, explained to the News Service of Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC).
Noting that the main purpose of the research was to tackle waste water treatment and pollution related problems, Nasr Esfahani reiterated, “We exploited the photocatalytic behavior of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and by coating the particles into composite structure, it was practical to separate (or recover) catalyst from solution easily."
In the research, three composite film types of titanium dioxide were prepared from different commercial titanium dioxide nanopowders. Stable suspensions of nanopowders with optimal molar ratios were dispersed in TiO2 cells and coated over glass slides.
The resulted composite films with specific concentration and acidity were ready to use after oxygen saturation process in exposure of UV irradiation.
Nasr Esfehani pointed out that the prepared composite films can be used to degrade some common textile synthetic dyes such as methyl orange, solophenyl red, light yellow (X6G), tertro direct light blue.
He referred to resolution of the problems concerning separation and filtration of titanium dioxide, and improvement of photocatalytic efficiency of the nanostructural composite films (with modified superficial characteristics) as advantages of the research work.
For further details on this research please consult the Journal of Desalination and Water Treatment, volume 3, pages 64 to 72, 2009.