Desenvolvimento de nanocompósitos formados por polianilina, nanotubos de carbono e dióxido de titânio visando a fotodegradação de fármaco

Abstract

Among the technologies for wastewater treatment, this work addressed advanced oxidation processes based on the use of heterogeneous catalysts, this process is also known as heterogeneous photocatalysis. The efficiency of this type of process is already well known and reported in the literature, however, its application has artificial energy costs for activation of the catalyst responsible for the degradation of contaminants. In this sense, new materials have been developed to promote the photosensitizing catalysts such as TiO2, which enables activation by visible light and solar renewable energy applications. In the development of new catalysts the nanostructured composite materials formed of two or more substances in close contact, stand out due to synergism which confers unique properties to the material. This study aimed to the synthesis, characterization and application of nanocomposites formed by polyaniline (PANI), TiO2-P25 and CNTs as catalysts in the degradation of the drug sulfamethoxazole under simulated sunlight. The catalyst synthesis was the interfacial polymerization (water / toluene) of aniline, containing organic phase with CNTs and aniline, and titanium dioxide in the aqueous phase. Different associations of materials and TiO2 concentrations were tested and resulted in the following catalysts PANI:TiO2, PANI:TiO2-conc, NTC:PANI:TiO2 and NTC:PANI:TiO2-conc. The materials were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X- ray diffraction, electronic microscopy of scanning and transmission, and thermogravimetric. The potential for these materials in photocatalysis of sulfamethoxazole was evaluated by a simulated solar light system. The interfacial synthesis resulted in a green composite color, characteristic of polyaniline. The characterization techniques indicated the formation of polyaniline as a polymeric mass containing CNTs and / or TiO2. The polymer in the composite showed by Raman spectroscopy, to be more polaronic form, planar, an less reticulation. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the composite consisted of approximately ~ 85 % TiO2 on samples with CNTs and ~ 95 % oxide in the samples formed only polyaniline and titanium oxide. Was discussed fundamental conditions on determining the photosensitivity of TiO2-P25 by polyaniline and CNTs, through a simulated solar system. The catalyst PANI:TiO2-conc showed higher photodegradation ability to sulfamethoxazole under simulated sunlight compared to TiO2-P25. Thus, the composite formed by polyaniline and TiO 2 with low percentage of polymer, resulted in a material with the greatest potential for applications in solar systems.