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. 2020 Jan 10;10(1):136.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-56836-7.

Added value recyclability of glass fiber waste as photo-oxidation catalyst for toxic cytostatic micropollutants

Gheorghe Nechifor  1 , Eugenia Eftimie Totu  2 , Aurelia Cristina Nechifor  1 , Lucian Constantin  3 , Alina Mirela Constantin  3 , Mihaela Elena Cărăuşu  4 , Ibrahim Isildak  5
Affiliations

Added value recyclability of glass fiber waste as photo-oxidation catalyst for toxic cytostatic micropollutants

Gheorghe Nechifor et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

There is an increased interest in recycling valuable waste materials for usage in procedures with high added values. Silica microparticles are involved in the processes of catalysis, separation, immobilization of complexants, biologically active compounds, and different nanospecies, responding to restrictive requirements for selectivity of various chemical and biochemical processes. This paper presents the surface modification of accessible and dimensionally controlled recycled silica microfiber with titanium dioxide. Strong base species in organic solvents: methoxide, ethoxide, propoxide, and potassium butoxide in corresponding alcohol, activated the glass microfibres with 12-13 µm diameter. In the photo-oxidation process of a toxic micro-pollutant, cyclophosphamide, the new composite material successfully proved photocatalytic effectiveness. The present work fulfills simultaneously two specific objectives related to the efforts directed towards a sustainable environment and circular economy: recycling of optical glass microfibers resulted as waste from the industry, and their usage for the photo-oxidation of highly toxic emerging micro-pollutants.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic action mechanism of cyclophosphamide.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structural and morphological characteristics of silica microfibrils grafted with titanium dioxide. (a) SEM image for dimensional analysis of the titanium dioxide grafted on silica microfibers; (b) EDX analysis of the titanium dioxide particles grafted on the silica microfibres; (c) XRD analysis of TiO2 nanoparticles covering the silica microfibers; (d) Elemental mapping for the silica microfiber decorated with TiO2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SEM images of non-adherent titanium dioxide nanoparticles resulted from the system: (a) titanium (IV) methoxide - methyl alcohol; (b) titanium (IV) ethoxide - ethyl alcohol; (c) titanium (IV) propoxide - propyl alcohol.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) DRS spectra for quartz fibers decorated with TiO2, quartz microfibers, and TiO2 (P25, Degussa). (b) Absorbance spectra for the direct electronic transition, F(R)2 vs. E (eV) of the quartz fibers decorated with TiO2, silica microfiber, nanotitania Degussa P25; (c) Zeta potential distribution for quartz fibers decorated with TiO2; (d) Particle size distribution for quartz fibers decorated with TiO2.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Absorption-desorption plot (a) and pore size and volume distribution (b) of quartz microfiber decorated with nanotitania.
Figure 6
Figure 6
XPS spectra for the silica microfibers grafted with nanotitania.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Normalized CP residual concentration vs. irradiation time.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Speciation and chemical states on the surface of SiO2 microfibers decorated with nano-TiO2.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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