title: Composite nanofibers for highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes from contaminated water.
abstract: In this study highly efficient photocatalyst based on composite nanofibers containing polyacrylonitrile (PAN), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and surface functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles was developed. The composite nanofibers were fabricated using electrospinning technique followed by chemical crosslinking. The surface modification and morphology changes of the fabricated composite nanofibers were examined through SEM, TEM, and FTIR analysis. The photocatalytic performance of the composite nanofibers for the degradation of model molecules, methylene blue and indigo carmine, under UV irradiation in aqueous solutions was investigated. The results demonstrated that high photodegradation efficiency was obtained in a short time and at low power intensity compared to other reported studies. The effective factors on the degradation of the dyes, such as the amount of catalyst, solution pH and irradiation time were investigated. The experimental kinetic data were fitted using pseudo-first order model. The effect of the composite nanofibers as individual components on the degradation efficiency of MB and IC was evaluated in order to understand the overall photodegradation mechanism. The results obtained showed that all the components possess significant effect on the photodegradation activity of the composite nanofibers. The stability studies demonstrated that the photodegradation efficiency can remain constant at the level of 99% after five consecutive cycles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and NanoPhysics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 16440 Kista, Stockholm, Sweden; Mechanical Design and Production Engineering Department, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt; Production Engineering and Printing Technology Department, Akhbar El Yom Academy, 12655 Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: Experimental Cancer Medicine, KFC, Novum, Department of laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ramy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Design and Production Engineering Department, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and NanoPhysics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 16440 Kista, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Toprak
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and NanoPhysics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 16440 Kista, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muhammed
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials and NanoPhysics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 16440 Kista, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: salam@kth.se.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uheida
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D007203:Indigo Carmine / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010782:Photolysis; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004396:Coloring Agents; D007203:Indigo Carmine; D008751:Methylene Blue; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D014025:Titanium; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C009495:titanium dioxide; C010504:polyacrylonitrile
keywords: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs); Composite nanofibers; Electrospinning; Organic contaminants; Photocatalytic