Silver Nanoparticles/Titanium Dioxide Nanowires Photocatalyst Formation for Microplastic Removal Using Ultraviolet Radiation

Abstract

Microplastic is the most problematic persistent pollutants in the environment despite of its unique properties for various life application. The objective is to investigate the feasibility and practicability of the nanostructured TiO2 coupling with noble metal in removal polypropylene (PP) microplastics. The TiO2 nanowires (NWs) were synthesized by thermal oxidation of Ti foil under various mixed oxidation environments. TiO2 NWs were successfully grown uniformly and with full coverage over the foil under the condition of ramping in KOH mist and soaking in water vapour at 700 °C for 120 minutes. Heterojunction photocatalyst of Ag/TiO2 NWs was formed using wet impregnation method. Small quantity of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) was attached onto the TiO2 nanowires. The photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized Ag/TiO2 NWs photocatalyst was tested upon removal of PP microplastic from non-static water bodies under UV irradiation. Coupling Ag NPs with TiO2 NWs have better photocatalytic performance than those without Ag NPs from the reduction of weight loss and the possibility of presence of carbonyl group.