Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have great potential for use in the treatment of emerging organic pollutants. While the photodegradation of various model contaminants by TiO2 NPs has been studied under a variety of irradiation and water chemistry conditions, there exists limited mechanistic insight as to how these processes are related to the molecular-level surface transformations that may occur under different treatment conditions. In many TiO2-assisted water treatment scenarios, NP slurries will be exposed to UV irradiation, which at high intensities will also increase the temperature of the system. This study is using surface-sensitive characterization techniques, including x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, to examine the impact of a range of UV light and temperature exposures on the metal oxide surfaces of P25 and anatase TiO2 NPs. The relationships between the molecular-level surface properties and the broader properties of the TiO2 NPs are being further explored using a suite of functional assays. Assays that have been optimized for the characterization of TiO2 NP slurries used for treatment purposes include methylene blue dye degradation (photocatalytic activity), rose bengal dye adsorption (hydrophobicity), and fluorescein dye conversion (reactive oxygen species generation). Ultimately, changes in the properties of the TiO2 NPs will be compared to contaminant degradation performance, allowing for a better understanding of the specific role that surface structure plays in nanoparticle behavior and treatment efficacy.

Examining the role of TiO2 surface transformations on nanoparticle properties and treatment efficacy

255th National Meeting (2018)

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