Search results

Environmental issues and lack of drinking water have forced researchers to find some alternatives to wastewater treatment. Because dyes are used in a variety of industrial applications such as textile and pharmaceutical, wastewater of these factories leads to several environmental problems. Using catalysis under ultraviolet-irradiation (photocatalysis) is one of the cases that is used in wastewater treatment. The purpose of this work is the photocatalytic degradation of dye (Reactive Red 198) and pharmaceutical (tetracycline) using MIL-53(Fe) and MIL-100(Fe).

In this work, Reactive Red 198 (RR198), an anionic dye and tetracycline as a pharmaceutical are tested with two catalysts, MIL-53(Fe) and MIL-100(Fe). Catalyst synthesis method and characterization were discussed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared analyses, and their results are described in detail.

Dye concentration varies among 15, 20, 30 and 40 mg/L for MIL-100(Fe) for which the removal percent is 97%, 94%, 89% and 58% and for MIL-53(Fe), dye concentration increases from 20 to 40, 60 and 80 mg/L, the removal percent of which is 98%, 88%, 75% and 50%. Pharmaceutical degradation by MIL-53(Fe) and MIL-100(Fe) was 75% and 80%, respectively.

Photocatalytic degradation of RR198 and tetracycline using MIL-53(Fe) and MIL-100(Fe) was not studied in detail.

It must be remembered that the exercise described in part 1 was carried out in a carbon arc weathering machine to provide a stable environment. Referring to Fig 7, which shows the absorption spectra of the resins used in this section, it can be seen that the acrylic resin only absorbs to any great extent in the UVB region, and if reference is made to Fig 3, where the spectra of carbon arc radiation and UK summer sunlight are compared, it is seen that the carbon arc is deficient in this area. The protective aspect of titanium dioxide will thus not operate in this weathering environment. If the same exercise was repeated in natural sunlight, then the pigmented paints would show an even greater protective tendency, since all resins absorb to a greater extent as wavelength decreases, but the extent of photocatalysis remains constant. In Fig 7, the two alkyd/MF systems have been represented by a single line because of their chemical similarity.

Micropollutants in the aquatic environment pose threats to both ecosystems and human health. Traditional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) reduce some micropollutants, especially those who adhere to sludge or suspended matter. The hydrophilic micropollutants, on the other side, which may be non-biodegradable and resistant to UV-treatment etc. are typically transported untreated into the water recipients. This paper contains a literature study on the state of the art of advanced wastewater treatment technologies for reducing micropollutants such as pharmaceutical degradation products, personal care products, surfactants and industrial chemicals including heavy metals.

This literature study is completed using the most extensive and expansive literature database in the World to date, Google Scholar (GS). Published papers in recognized scientific journals are sought out in GS, and for relevance for this literature study, papers published here from 2016 and onwards (the last 5 years) have been chosen to eliminate irrelevant studies.

The result of the study is that there are many promising technologies on the market or emerging; however, no one solution treats every micropollutant equally well. Since advanced technologies often require expensive investments for municipalities and companies, it is important to identify which micropollutants pose the highest risk towards human health and the environment, because choosing systems to eliminate them all is not economically wise, and even choosing a system combining the existing technologies can be more expensive than states, municipalities and private companies are capable of investing in.

The research is limited to published papers on GS, which may omit certain papers published in closed databases not sharing their work on GS.

The practical implications are that practitioners cannot find go-to solutions based on the conclusions of the research and thus need to use the results to investigate their own needs further in order to make the wisest decision accordingly. However, the paper outlines the state of the art in advanced wastewater treatment and explains the benefits and downsides of the technologies mentioned; however, more research in the field is required before practitioners may find a proper solution to their specific issues.

The social implications are that the consequences of introducing a removal of micropollutants from the water environment can ultimately effect the citizens/consumers/end-users through added costs to the tariffs or taxes on advanced wastewater treatment, added costs on everyday goods, wares and products and added costs on services that uses goods, wares and products that ultimately produces micropollutants affecting the water environment.

This paper presents a much needed state of the art regarding the current advanced technologies to mitigate micropollutants in wastewater. The overview the paper provides supports politics on national as well as international levels, where larger unions such as the EU has stated that advanced wastewater treatment will be the next step in regulating pollutants for aquatic outlet.

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of synthesis conditions on properties of TiO₂ nanoparticles to be used for photocatalysis and also producing TiO₂ using a low temperature method.

TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesised via a sol‐gel method at low temperature and the effect of parameters such as: synthesis temperature, HNO₃ concentration, calcination temperature and synthesis time on properties of TiO₂ were studied. The effects of the physico‐chemical properties of TiO₂, its concentration and light intensity on photocatalytic properties of TiO₂ nanoparticles were investigated also.

The results showed that TiO₂ with Anatase phase were formed at 80‐100°C by using proper HNO₃ concentration, synthesis time and calcinations temperature. Calcinations programme and temperature and also the synthesis time affect the formation of TiO₂ crystalline phase (i.e. Rutile and Brookite), their surface area and crystallite size. To evaluate the photocatalytic properties of TiO₂ nanoparticles, fluorescein was used as a model molecule. Results showed that degradation of fluorescein could be described by pseudo‐first order kinetics. The effect of TiO₂ concentration and light intensity on photocatalytic activity showed that increasing concentration of TiO₂ and the light intensity would increase the degradation of fluorescein.

The method used in this work to prepare TiO₂ nanoparticles is an economic method for low temperature synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles with high photocatalytic activity, which could find numerous applications in coating technology.

TAs the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation increases every year, effective methods to block UV rays to protect human skin, plastics, timber and other polymer materials are urgently sought. Textiles serve as important materials for UV protection in many applications. The utilisation of nanoparticles to textile materials has been the object of several studies aimed at producing finished fabrics with different performances. This article reviews the recent advancements in the field of UV blocking textiles and fibers that are functionalised with nanostructured surface coatings. Different types of UV blocking agents are discussed and various examples of UV blocking textiles that utilise zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) are presented. Future challenges, such as wash-fastness and photocatalysis, are also discussed.

The sustainable performance of hotels which constitute a major part of the tourism industry, gains increasing importance day by day. Sustainability has become mandatory not only for the tourism industry but also for all industries producing goods and services. Reducing the negative impact of development on the environment and environmental innovation which aims to benefit from natural resources and energy effectively and consciously helps hotels to be sustainable. The tourism industry has a complex structure and exists as being intertwined with other branches of science. Tourism, which is a multidisciplinary industry, is nourished by other branches of science as well as supplies other fields of science by providing working space. Some new solutions that are put forward by materials science and engineering take place in the tourism industry as new innovations. Owing to this interaction, the workload of the personnel working in hotels is reduced and the enterprises save material and energy. At the same time, the customers who benefit from the services of the hotels consume the services in more comfortable and safer environments.

Ceramic materials are generally used in toilet and bathroom parts of hotels. However, ceramics are observed to be used in lobbies, cafes, restaurants, pools, facades, and similar areas in addition to toilets and baths in hotels. The aim of this study is to identify new ceramic solutions that affect and contribute to the sustainability of the hotels which is a major sector under the roof of the tourism industry and to contribute the literature. In order to actualize this aim, the document analysis method which is one of qualitative research methods was used and the literature search was carried out to identify new ceramic solutions. The result of study includes moisture control tiles with the ability to keep the humidity at normal standards in terms of human health and that can be used in hotels, facade systems that clean themselves and the polluted air, thermal coating systems for heat insulation, antibacterial materials that provide hygiene, and dirt repelling products. Also, it is seen that there are new ceramic solutions such as costless night lighting and security strips as well as materials with a phosphorescence property for aesthetical purposes and also, tiles with heat control which offer different possibilities aesthetically. It is observed that the different benefits obtained from each of identified new ceramic solutions ease off the workload of personnel working in the hotels, enable material and energy saving in hotels and at the same time, provide an accommodation in a more comfortable and safer environment for customers. In addition to this, the use of high-technology ceramics and nanomaterials in the field of tourism creates places where technology and aesthetics combine.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is popular for many applications including the production of photocatalysts. This paper aims to focus on developing of 3D-printed photocatalyst-nano composite lattice structure. Digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing of photocatalyst composites was performed using photosensitive resin mixed with 0.5% Wt. of TiO₂ powder and varying amounts (0.025% Wt. to 0.2% Wt.) of graphene nanoplatelet powder. The photocatalytic efficiency of DLP 3D-printed photocatalyst TiO₂ composite was investigated, and the effects of nano graphite powder incorporation on the photocatalytic activity, thermal and mechanical properties were investigated.

Methods involve 3D computer-aided design modeling, printing parameters and comprehensive characterization techniques such as structural equation modeling, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and mechanical testing.

Results highlight successful dispersion and characteristics of TiO₂ and graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) powders, intricate designs of 3D-printed lattice structures, and the influence of GNPs on thermal behavior and mechanical properties.

The study suggests applicability in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation, showcasing the adaptability of 3 D printing in designing effective photocatalysts. Future research should focus on practical applications and the long-term durability of these 3D-printed composites.

The textile industry is evolving toward nanotechnology, which provides materials with self-cleaning properties. This paper aims to provide a thorough explanation of the green synthesis and mechanism of ZnO nanoparticles, with prospective applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in self-cleaning textiles.

This review introduces a green mechanism for the synthesis of ZnO NPs using plant extracts, their self-cleaning properties and the mechanisms of physical, chemical and biological self-cleaning actions for textile applications.

ZnO NPs are among the several nanoparticles that are beneficial for self-cleaning textiles because of their exceptional physical and chemical properties, although review publications addressing the use of ZnO NPs in textiles for self-cleaning are uncommon. These results indicate that the plant-synthesized ZnO NPs display excellent biological, physical and chemical self-cleaning properties, the mechanism of which involves photocatalysis, surface roughness and interactions between ZnO NPs and bacterial surfaces.

Nanoformulations of plant-synthesized ZnO have been reviewed to achieve promising self-cleaning textile properties and have not been reviewed earlier.

This paper aims to investigate the photocatalytic activity of zinc doped MAO-TiO₂ films under the optimum MAO treatment condition.

The coating was prepared by micro arc oxidation, and the influence of doping on the properties of the coating was also investigated.

The results show that the BET surface area is 78.25±0.03m²/g, total pore area is 76.32 ± 0.04m²/g, and the total pore volume is 0.2135 ± 0.0004cm³/g. The degradation ratio of the film electrode with Zn-doped in methyl orange solution is up to 94%. When the react circles is 10 times, the degradation ratio is up to more than 85% and remains steady. With the different reaction conditions, these kinetics of the reactions show some different formulas.

A kinetic equation for photocatalytic activity is established.

The aim of this paper is to synthesize graphene-modified titanium dioxide (GR-TiO₂) nanorod arrays nanocomposite films, so that these can enhance the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide and overcome the problem of difficult separation and recovery of photocatalysts.

The GR-TiO₂ nanocomposite films were synthesized via hydrothermal method and spin-coating. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) diffuse reflectance spectrum and Raman spectrum. The photocatalytic performance of the GR-TiO₂ nanocomposite films for degrading Rhodamin B under ultraviolet (UV) was studied by a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The photocatalytic enhancement mechanism of graphene was studied by photoelectrochemical analysis.

The introduction of graphene expanded the range of the optical response of TiO₂ nanorod arrays, improving the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and thus dramatically increasing its photocatalytic performance.

A simple and novel way for synthesizing GR-TiO₂ nanocomposite films has enhanced the photocatalytic performance of TiO₂.

The photocatalyst synthesized is easy to separate and recycle in the process of photocatalytic reaction, so it is possible to achieve industrialization.