Nano-photocatalysts for the destruction of chloro-organic compounds and bacteria in water

• Nano-photocatalysts based on nanocarbon–titanium composition were synthesized.
• Nano-photocatalysts can destroy chloro-organic compounds and bacteria in water.
• The method of nano-photocatalysts detection in water has been developed.

The article deals with a novel electrochemical method of preparing nano-photocatalysts suspended in aqueous solution and their application for water treatment from chloro-organic compounds and bacteria. The nano-photocatalysts have been electrolytically synthesized in the cell with titanium and graphite electrodes. The synthesized nano-photocatalysts based on nanocarbon–titanium composition have the active functional groups including carbonyl (>CO), hydroxyl (–OH), carboxyl (–COOH), and photocatalytic –Ti(OH)–O–Ti(OH)– formed on the surface of carbon nanoparticles. Here, we report that the synthesized nano-photocatalysts can destroy chloro-organic compounds including dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), aldrin (C12H8Cl6), lindane (C6H6Cl6), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and bacteria Escherichia coli in water under UV and sunlight. In addition, the method of nano-photocatalysts detection in water has been described.

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