Photocatalytic activity based-optimization of TTIP thin films for E-coli inactivation: Effect of Mn and Cu dopants

Abstract

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are defined amongst the most effective treatment options for removal of micropollutants and bacteria inactivation. Among AOPs, photocatalysis process took particular attention of being a green technology that can be applied under solar conditions. However, this technology has not widely been extended at large scale due to some limitations. Concerns over possible release of nanoparticles into the process effluent, namely the physical stability of thins films (TFs) have to be answered accordingly. Thus, this study attempts to determine photocatalytic (PC) activity of TFs produced via (TTIP)-based sol-gel methods with particular focus on the photocatalytic bacteria inactivation potential of the optimum TF. As optimized TFs were subjected to bacteria inactivation under UV-A irradiation. Additionally, effect of Cu- and Mn-doping on PC activity and bacteria inactivation potentials of optimized TTIP TF was investigated. A modified version of ISO- methodology has been applied for the PC activity assessment of different TTIP TFs. Characterization of bare TFs and TFs of post treatment were performed by analytical tools such as; SEM, EDX, AFM, RAMAN and FT-IR. The obtained differences regarding PC activity and bacteria inactivation potentials of the TFs were correlated with physico-chemical properties of each photocatalyst coated surface. Present research point out the importance of characterization and modification of the photocatalyst with proper dopants as applicable with the target pollutant scenario encountered. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.