Incorporation of N-doped TiO2 nanorods in regenerated cellulose thin films fabricated from recycled newspaper as a green portable photocatalyst.
In this work, an environmental friendly RC/N-TiO2 nanocomposite thin film was designed as a green portable photocatalyst by utilizing recycled newspaper as sustainable cellulose resource. Investigations on the influence of N-doped TiO2 nanorods incorporation on the structural and morphological properties of RC/N-TiO2 nanocomposite thin film are presented. The resulting nanocomposite thin film was characterized by FESEM, AFM, FTIR, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, and XPS analysis. The results suggested that there was a remarkable compatibility between cellulose and N-doped TiO2 nanorods anchored onto the surface of the RC/N-TiO2 nanocomposite thin film. Under UV and visible irradiation, the RC/N-TiO2 nanocomposite thin film showed remarkable photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue solution with degradation percentage of 96% and 78.8%, respectively. It is crucial to note that the resulting portable photocatalyst produced via an environmental and green technique in its fabrication process has good potential in the field of water and wastewater treatment application.
Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Mohamad Azuwa
MA
Mohamed
Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Electronic address: hayati@petroleum.utm.my.
W N W
WN
Salleh
Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Juhana
J
Jaafar
Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
A F
AF
Ismail
Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Muhazri
M
Abd Mutalib
Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia; Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Siti Munira
SM
Jamil
D002384:Catalysis; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D010209:Paper; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D059027:Recycling; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D014867:Water; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014508:Urea; D002482:Cellulose; D014025:Titanium; D009584:Nitrogen
Green approach; Inorganic–organic nanocomposite thin film; N-doped TiO(2) nanorods; Portable photocatalyst; Recycled newspaper