Photocatalytic degradation of azo dye using core@shell nano-TiO2 particles to reduce toxicity

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2018-10, Vol.25 (29), p.29493-29504
• Main Authors: Ozmen, Nesrin, Erdemoglu, Sema, Gungordu, Abbas, Asilturk, Meltem, Turhan, Duygu Ozhan, Akgeyik, Emrah, Harper, Stacey L., Ozmen, Murat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic environment; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Azo dyes; Biodegradation; Biological activity; Catalysts; Chemical synthesis; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological risk assessment; Ecotoxicology; Embryos; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental impact; Environmental science; Fluorescence spectroscopy; Lethal effects; Nanoparticles; Organic chemistry; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Public health; Reflectance; Remediation; Research Article; Risk assessment; Scanning electron microscopy; Silicon dioxide; Spectrum analysis; Titanium dioxide; Toxicity; Toxicity testing; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water pollution; Water Pollution Control; X-ray fluorescence; Xenobiotics; Zebrafish
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2942-x

Clean and safe water is fundamental for human and environmental health. Traditional remediation of textile dye-polluted water with chemical, physical, and biological processes has many disadvantages. Due to this, nano-engineered materials are drawing more attention to this area. However, the widespread use of nano-particles for this purpose may lead to photocatalytic degradation of xenobiotics, while increasing the risk of nano-particle-induced ecotoxicity. Therefore, we comparatively evaluated the toxicity of novel synthesized core@shell TiO 2 and SiO 2 nano-particles to embryonic stages of Danio rerio and Xenopus laevis . The ability of photocatalytic destruction of the synthesized nano-particles was tested using toxic azo dye, disperse red 65, and the effects of reducing the toxicity were evaluated. The reflux process was used to synthesize catalysts in the study. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, BET surface area, and UV–vis-diffuse reflectance spectra. It was determined that the synthesized nano-particles had no significant toxic effect on D. rerio and X. laevis embryos. On the other hand, photocatalytic degradation of the dye significantly reduced lethal effects on embryonic stages of the organisms. Therefore, we suggest that specific nano-particles may be useful for water remediation to prevent human health and environmental impact. However, further risk assessment should be conducted for the ecotoxicological risks of nano-particles spilled in aquatic environments and the relationship of photocatalytic interaction with nano-particles and xenobiotics.