Photocatalytic and antibacterial potency of titanium dioxide nanoparticles: A cost-effective and environmentally friendly media for treatment of air and wastewater

Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy were used to study the structure, morphology, chemical composition, and functional group attached to the as-synthesized TiO2-NPs. These NPs were then used to test their efficacy against various microbes and their potency as effective catalysts. TiO2-NPs are found to have the maximum antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacterial strains rather than Gram-positive bacteria. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2-NPs was investigated for the photodegradation of 10 ppm bromophenol blue (BPB) dye by using 0.01 g–0.05 g of catalyst. TiO2-NPs exhibited the removal of 95% BPB, respectively, within 180 min. The TiO2-NPs’ antibacterial and catalytic properties suggest that these may be used in environmental remediation as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly wastewater and air treatment material.