A multilayered perfluorinated ionomeric matrix with embedded TiO2 has been developed as Photoactive Coating (PAC) for abatement of organic pollutants in liquid phase.[1] The immobilization of TiO2 into a polymeric matrix has overcome the drawback of slurry TiO2 due to catalyst recovery costs that limit the industrial applications. PAC degradative activity has been studied and its photocatalytic efficiency has been evaluated on both clear and turbid aqueous polluted solutions. The properties of perfluorinated ionomeric polymers, such as high chemical resistance, high UV transparency, good wettability and good permeability to O2 and water vapor, has been employed for the preparation of a reactive coating that promotes the reaction between polluted solutions and a UV-activated catalyst.[2,3] The perfluorinated multilayered coating has been applied directly on the UV source and it has been based on a double-layer of tetrafluoroethylene(TFE)/perfluorodioxole copolymer, acting as primer, and an outer photoactive layer of the ionomeric TFE/perfluorosulphonylvinylether copolymer with dispersed TiO2.[4] The strong acidity of the ionomeric side chains confers hydrophilicity to the coating, allowing a good interaction with the polluted aqueous solutions. Rhodamine B-base and Crystal Violet have been used as organic hydrosoluble pollutant and their concentrations have been monitored by UV-Vis and HPLC-MS. Photodegradation tests shows that PAC allows higher rates of pollutant photoabatement than slurry TiO2, even at low pollutant concentration. Further tests in presence of dispersed solids show good performances of PAC even in turbid suspensions. Indeed, TiO2 activation and pollutant diffusion takes place at the opposite sides of the coating and, moreover, any costly catalyst separation from purified water is required because of catalyst immobilization in the polymeric matrix. References: [1] M. Sansotera, et al., Appl. Catal., B, 148, (2014) 29; [2] F. Persico, et al., Thin Solid Films, 545, (2013) 210; [3] W. Navarrini, et al., Prog. Org. Coat., 74, (2012) 794; [4] F. Persico, et al., Appl. Catal., B, 170, (2015) 83.

Multilayered perfluorinated ionomeric reactive coating for abatement of organic pollutant

251st National Meeting (2016)

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