MWCNTs Decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> as Highly Performing Filler in the Preparation of Nanocomposite Membranes for Scalable Photocatalytic Degradation of Bisphenol A in Water
Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting compound with estrogenic behavior, is of great concern within the scientific community due to its high production levels and increasing concentration in various surface aquifers. While several materials exhibit excellent capacity for the photocatalytic degr...
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/16/2325 |
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| author | Antonio Tursi Amerigo Beneduci Isabella Nicotera Cataldo Simari |
| author_facet | Antonio Tursi Amerigo Beneduci Isabella Nicotera Cataldo Simari |
| author_sort | Antonio Tursi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting compound with estrogenic behavior, is of great concern within the scientific community due to its high production levels and increasing concentration in various surface aquifers. While several materials exhibit excellent capacity for the photocatalytic degradation of BPA, their powdered nature and poor chemical stability render them unsuitable for practical application in large-scale water decontamination. In this study, a new class of nanocomposite membranes based on sulfonated polyethersulfone (sPES) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles (MWCNTs-TiO<sub>2</sub>) were investigated as efficient and scalable photocatalysts for the photodegradation of BPA in aqueous solutions. The MWCNTs-TiO<sub>2</sub> hybrid material was prepared through a facile and inexpensive hydrothermal method and extensively characterized by XRD, Raman, FTIR, BET, and TGA. Meanwhile, nanocomposite membranes at different filler loadings were prepared by a simple casting procedure. Swelling tests and PFG NMR analyses provided insights into the impact of filler introduction on membrane hydrophilicity and water molecular dynamics, whereas the effectiveness of the various photocatalysts in BPA removal was monitored using HPLC. Among the different MWCNTs-TiO<sub>2</sub> content nanocomposites, the one at 10 wt% loading (sP-MT<sub>10</sub>) showed the best photoactivity. Under UV irradiation at 254 nm and 365 nm for 240 min, photocatalytic oxidation of 5 mg/L bisphenol A by sP-MT<sub>10</sub> resulted in 91% and 82% degradation, respectively. Both the effect of BPA concentration and the membrane regenerability were evaluated, revealing that the sP-MT<sub>10</sub> maintained its maximum BPA removal capability over more than 10 cycles. Our findings indicate that sP-MT nanocomposite membranes are versatile, scalable, efficient, and highly reusable photocatalysts for the degradation of BPA, as well as potentially for other endocrine disruptors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:41:54Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:41:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
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| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7c4a6bc60ab45cd86e5f9fe36d3b2da2023-11-19T02:27:23ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-08-011316232510.3390/nano13162325MWCNTs Decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> as Highly Performing Filler in the Preparation of Nanocomposite Membranes for Scalable Photocatalytic Degradation of Bisphenol A in WaterAntonio Tursi0Amerigo Beneduci1Isabella Nicotera2Cataldo Simari3Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 15D, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 15D, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 15D, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 15D, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, ItalyBisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting compound with estrogenic behavior, is of great concern within the scientific community due to its high production levels and increasing concentration in various surface aquifers. While several materials exhibit excellent capacity for the photocatalytic degradation of BPA, their powdered nature and poor chemical stability render them unsuitable for practical application in large-scale water decontamination. In this study, a new class of nanocomposite membranes based on sulfonated polyethersulfone (sPES) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles (MWCNTs-TiO<sub>2</sub>) were investigated as efficient and scalable photocatalysts for the photodegradation of BPA in aqueous solutions. The MWCNTs-TiO<sub>2</sub> hybrid material was prepared through a facile and inexpensive hydrothermal method and extensively characterized by XRD, Raman, FTIR, BET, and TGA. Meanwhile, nanocomposite membranes at different filler loadings were prepared by a simple casting procedure. Swelling tests and PFG NMR analyses provided insights into the impact of filler introduction on membrane hydrophilicity and water molecular dynamics, whereas the effectiveness of the various photocatalysts in BPA removal was monitored using HPLC. Among the different MWCNTs-TiO<sub>2</sub> content nanocomposites, the one at 10 wt% loading (sP-MT<sub>10</sub>) showed the best photoactivity. Under UV irradiation at 254 nm and 365 nm for 240 min, photocatalytic oxidation of 5 mg/L bisphenol A by sP-MT<sub>10</sub> resulted in 91% and 82% degradation, respectively. Both the effect of BPA concentration and the membrane regenerability were evaluated, revealing that the sP-MT<sub>10</sub> maintained its maximum BPA removal capability over more than 10 cycles. Our findings indicate that sP-MT nanocomposite membranes are versatile, scalable, efficient, and highly reusable photocatalysts for the degradation of BPA, as well as potentially for other endocrine disruptors.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/16/2325wastewater treatmentbisphenol A (BPA) removalendocrine-disrupting chemicalsMWCNTs-TiO<sub>2</sub> hybridnanocomposite membranesvisible-light photodegradation |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Tursi Amerigo Beneduci Isabella Nicotera Cataldo Simari MWCNTs Decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> as Highly Performing Filler in the Preparation of Nanocomposite Membranes for Scalable Photocatalytic Degradation of Bisphenol A in Water Nanomaterials wastewater treatment bisphenol A (BPA) removal endocrine-disrupting chemicals MWCNTs-TiO<sub>2</sub> hybrid nanocomposite membranes visible-light photodegradation |
| title | MWCNTs Decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> as Highly Performing Filler in the Preparation of Nanocomposite Membranes for Scalable Photocatalytic Degradation of Bisphenol A in Water |
| title_full | MWCNTs Decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> as Highly Performing Filler in the Preparation of Nanocomposite Membranes for Scalable Photocatalytic Degradation of Bisphenol A in Water |
| title_fullStr | MWCNTs Decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> as Highly Performing Filler in the Preparation of Nanocomposite Membranes for Scalable Photocatalytic Degradation of Bisphenol A in Water |
| title_full_unstemmed | MWCNTs Decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> as Highly Performing Filler in the Preparation of Nanocomposite Membranes for Scalable Photocatalytic Degradation of Bisphenol A in Water |
| title_short | MWCNTs Decorated with TiO<sub>2</sub> as Highly Performing Filler in the Preparation of Nanocomposite Membranes for Scalable Photocatalytic Degradation of Bisphenol A in Water |
| title_sort | mwcnts decorated with tio sub 2 sub as highly performing filler in the preparation of nanocomposite membranes for scalable photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol a in water |
| topic | wastewater treatment bisphenol A (BPA) removal endocrine-disrupting chemicals MWCNTs-TiO<sub>2</sub> hybrid nanocomposite membranes visible-light photodegradation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/16/2325 |
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