The photocatalytic property of titanium dioxide (TiO2) to produce free radicals in an aqueous medium is known to enhance the breakdown of organic contaminants in water. In the presence of UV light, TiO2 demonstrates water remediation from various biologically harmful pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, industrial dyes, and even pathogenic microorganisms. However, the recovery of TiO2 particles from the water and the subsequent reuse of the particles are very challenging. Current methods such as centrifugation, filtration, and sedimentation are not efficient or compatible for all volumes. Also, despite its proven ability to decontaminate several harmful organic contaminants, the use of this photocatalyst to treat oil-contaminated water remains an underdeveloped research area. With the increased prevalence of offshore drilling and recent incidents of ocean oil spills having severe consequences, it is crucial to human and marine health and biodiversity to develop methods of purifying seawater contaminated with the components of crude oil when accidents inevitably occur. Current methods involve the absorption, skimming, on-site burning of oil slicks, and of course the natural but much slower process of uncatalyzed photodegradation by sunlight. These traditional methods tend to be time-consuming and inefficient and thus increase the risk of harm to the ecosystem. To improve the recovery of the TiO2 nanoparticles, we instilled a magnetic core beneath the photocatalytic shell. The addition of a magnetic core allows for the efficient removal and reuse of particles in the presence of a strong magnet following the purification process. To investigate the application, we synthesized Fe2O3-SiO2-TiO2 nanoparticles of different sizes that demonstrated successful photocatalytic decontamination of organic dyes when irradiated with UV light. We then examined their efficacy to purify water samples contaminated with crude oil in a lab setting as well as water samples contaminated from an oil well in West Texas. Finally, these particles' subsequent removal and reusability in successive water treatments were studied.

Efficacy and reusability of magnetized TiO2 nanoparticles in water purification

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ACS Fall 2022

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