Role of TiO2 nanoparticles in reducing toxicity of dyes and pharmaceutical drugs
TiO2 nanoparticles have wide applications in industry; some of them are given in cosmestics, dye,paper,plastic and rubber industry,food additive, construction material, coating to building, pigment, medical devices, sunscreens, gas sensing.
Role of TiO2 nanoparticles in reducing toxicity of dyes and pharmaceutical drugs
TiO2 work as a nanocatalyst in the degradation of methyl orange dye. TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized using Citrus paradisi peel extract exhibited 72% degradation of methyl orange using sunlight. Antiseptic commonly used in pharmaceutical industry chlorhexidine digluconate (CHD) affects aquatic environment by inducing resistance in microorganisms and also affects human health. Using optimum conditions of UV light intensity of 50 μW cm−2, pH 10.5, 2.5:1 of substrate-to-catalyst ratio 68.2% degradation of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHD) was achieved using titanium dioxide as a photo catalyst.
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In future, it is possible to reduce the toxic effects of waste water generated from pharmaceutical industry. Researchers tried nanocomposites for the removal of antibiotics from the environment. G-TiO2 composites were found to have 97% removal efficiency of levofloxacin (for 1 mg/l) using 300 W UV power and 45 min irradiation time. Use of TiO2 as a sorbent is limited due to its low surface area which is able to remove contaminants in low concentration. To reduce its agglomeration ability and to increase its surface area along with photo catalytic activity, TiO2 has been supported on zeolite, alumina, activated carbon and stainless steel. Composites of TiO2 with coconut shell powder were prepared using sol–gel method with heat treatment. These composites were reported to remove 98% carbamazepine, antiepileptic drug which is an important organic pollutant.
TiO2 nanoparticles can be used for the photo degradation of toxic dyes and other pharmaceutical drugs, thus avoid harmful effects on environment.
