Mn2O3/TiO2 nanofibers with broad-spectrum antibiotics effect and photocatalytic activity for preliminary stage of water desalination

Composite nanofibers consisting of Mn2O3 and TiO2 were prepared by the electrospinning process, and tested as Gram-class-independent antibacterial agent and photocatalyst for organic pollutants degradation. Initially, electrospinning of a sol-gel consisting of titanium isopropoxide, manganese acetate tetrahydrate and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) was used to produce hybrid polymeric nanofibers. Calcination of the obtained nanofibers in air at 650 °C led to produce good morphology Mn2O3/TiO2 nanofibers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to characterize the as-spun nanofibers and the calcined product. X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) analysis was also used to characterize the chemical composition and the crystallographic structure of the sintered nanofibers. The antibacterial activity of Mn2O3/TiO2 nanofibers against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria was investigated by calculating the minimum inhibitory concentration after treatment with the nanofibers. Investigations revealed that the lowest concentration of Mn2O3/TiO2 nanofibers solution inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29231 and Escherichia coli ATCC 52922 strains is 0.4 and 0.8 μg/ml, respectively. Incorporation of Mn2O3 significantly improved the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under the visible light irradiation due to enhancing rutile phase formation in the TiO2 nanofibers matrix.