Solar-driven photodegradation of ciprofloxacin and E. coli growth inhibition using a Tm3+ upconverting nanoparticle-based polymer composite
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Solar-driven photocatalysis is of great interest in terms of a sustainable use of energy and its application in wastewater treatment. The UV light-driven photogeneration of H2O2 by solar irradiation is an advanced strategy for the treatment of bacteria and recalcitrant pollutants in wastewater, but suffers from low efficiencies. In this work, a solar-driven multifunctional nanocomposite consisting of Tm3+ upconverting nanoparticles, poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid) and hydroxylated sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) was prepared. The components were crosslinked via a heating treatment at 170 °C, resulting in a non-leaching porous material. This nanocomposite exhibited excellent adsorption ability (89 % in 150 min) toward a 100 mg/L ciprofloxacin aqueous solution and proved to photodegrade it (50 %) upon 4 h artificial solar irradiation, exploiting photon upconversion processes. Moreover, an 80 % bactericidal effect against E. coli was registered upon sunlight irradiation. Altogether, these results suggest the feasibility of a solar-driven wastewater treatment based on upconverting nanoparticles.
Details
Original language | English |
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Article number | 146877 |
Journal | Chemical engineering journal |
Volume | 476 |
Publication status | Published - 15 Nov 2023 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Antibiotics, Antimicrobial, Nanocomposite, Photosensitive polymer, Solar-driven photocatalysis, Upconverting nanoparticles, Wastewater