Construction of Recycling Photocatalytic Gels for the Disinfection of Pathogens and Degradation of Organic Pollutants |
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Authors: | Dr Jinpeng Liu Dr Nali Zhu Dr Haiming Xu Jinwu Bai Dr Chaofeng Shao Prof Meiting Ju Prof Qilin Yu Prof Lu Liu |
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Institution: | 1. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38, Tongyan Rd., Tianjin, 300350 China;2. Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Rd., Tianjin, 300071 China;3. Wuhan Textile University, Sch Environm Engn, Wuhan, 430073, Hubei China |
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Abstract: | Bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr) nanosheets are exciting photocatalysts for microbial disinfection and organic dye degradation. However, it remains a great challenge to easily recycle these nanomaterials and improve their photocatalytic ability. Herein, we constructed a novel photocatalytic BiOBr@PAG gel containing BiOBr nanosheets and polyacrylamide gel (PAG), based on peroxydisulfate-induced polymerization reaction. The photocatalytic gel had equally distribution of BiOBr nanosheets on the surface, and could be easily recycled from water. More strikingly, the gel could also rapidly kill all tested pathogenic bacteria (i. e., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus) under irradiation. Its disinfection activity is attributed to remarkable intracellular ROS production and oxidative cell damage. Furthermore, the gel had higher photocatalytic activity than BiOBr nanosheets alone during degradation of organic dyes. This study developed a novel strategy for preparation of easy-recycling and high-efficiency photocatalytic systems for practical application in environmental treatment and medicinal disinfection. |
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Keywords: | photocatalysts BiOBr nanosheet polyacrylamide gel disinfection organic dye degradation |
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