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


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Nechifor G., Totu E. E., Nechifor A. C., Constantin L., Constantin A. M., Carausu M. E., ...More

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, vol.10, no.1, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 10 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1038/s41598-019-56836-7
  • Journal Name: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: Yes

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 mu m 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 photooxidation of highly toxic emerging micro-pollutants.