Preparation of TiO2-polystyrene photocatalyst from waste material and its usability for removal of various pollutants

• Preparation of TiO2-polystyrene employing polystyrene waste material.
• Determination of the photocatalytic action of produced materials.
• Photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) ions.
• Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.
• Antimicrobial properties of TiO2-PS.

The present study has concentrated on the immobilization of anatase titanium dioxide particles (TiO2, 44 nm particle size) on polystyrene (PS) by thermal attachment process. Waste PS particles were used as a support material. The photocatalytic properties of the produced material were tested for degradative removal of methylene blue, reductive removal of Cr(VI) as model pollutants and its antimicrobial properties were investigated using Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger as model microorganisms employing a near visible UV-A light (365 nm) source. Thus, TiO2 immobilized polystyrene beads seem to be highly promising for successful removal of studied pollutants. Additionally, effect of various experimental parameters such as pH, pollutant concentrations and catalyst mass has been evaluated as much as its stability and reusability. Control experiments indicated that employing neat PS in the presence and absence of light does not provide significant removal under the same condition.

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