Synthesis of High Efficient CS/PVDC/TiO2-Au Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Carcinogenic Ethidium Bromide in Sunlight

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D Candidate , Department of Measurements, Photochemistry and Agriculture Applications, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science (NILES), Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

2 National Research Centre, 30 El-Tahrir Street

3 National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries

4 Department of Laser Applications in Metrology, Photochemistry and Agric., National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

5 33 Bohouth St., P.O. 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

6 Prof. of Photochemistry and Nano chemistry, Department of Measurements, Photochemistry and Agriculture Applications, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science (NILES), Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

Ethidium bromide (EtBr) is one of the most broadly used dyes in molecular biology laboratories. It was considered a strong mutagenic, carcinogenic and possesses a major safety problem for the researchers and environmental hazards during the disposal process. In the current study chitosan (CS) and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) based on different morphologies of TiO2-Au nanocomposites were prepared, namely as CS/PVDC/TiO2-Au nanocomposites. Firstly, the titanium dioxide nanowires (TiO2-NWs, gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) and TiO2-NWs doped by Au-NPs (TiO2-Au) were successfully fabricated and well-evaluated using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Furthermore, chitosan was prepared from crabs shell wastes and blended with PVDC then different loadings of TiO2-Au nanocomposites were incorporated onto the nanocomposites films. The prepared CS/PVDC/TiO2-Au nanocomposites films were characterized using UV-Visible spectra, Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR), XRD and TEM. Moreover, the CS/PVDC/TiO2-Au nanocomposites were used for photodecomposition of EtBr under sunlight irradiation from~ 400-600 W/m2 with and without aeration as well as assaying integrity of the EtBr after decomposition by horizontal gel electrophoresis. The results established that the CS/PVDC/TiO2-Au nanocomposites were sufficient to remove ~70-90 % of the EtBr through the irradiated time course and ~ 60 % of the dye was degraded in the first one hour.

Keywords

Main Subjects