2023 AIChE Annual Meeting

(335g) Evaluate the Feasibility of Employing Cactus Mucilage to Improve the Robustness of the Reactive Coating Photocatalyst for the Removal of Chosen Bacteria in Wastewater

Authors

Alcantar, N., University of South Florida
The presence of wastewater creates a perfect habitat for the development of a broad range of bacteria and viruses, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella, and Rotavirus. The bacterium Escherichia coli, sometimes known as E. coli, is commonly found in both human and animal digestive systems. When E. coli is identified in wastewater, it may indicate that the water has been polluted with excrement, which may lead to health problems. Due to its extensive dispersion, the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) may be found in wastewater. S. aureus is the causal agent of a broad range of infections, from those that just affect the skin to those that may be deadly, such as pneumonia and septic shock. Salmonella is a pathogen that may be transferred from animals to people via the eating of infected food. Salmonella enterica is the most frequent kind of bacterium that causes illness, although there are many others. It has also been identified in polluted food and water. Salmonella may be found in high numbers in the wastewater of certain kinds of institutions, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities that house a significant number of animals, such as farms and slaughterhouses.

Photocatalysis is rapidly becoming one of the most popular technologies for wastewater treatment due to its low cost, environmental friendliness, and adaptability. There are numerous different technologies for cleaning wastewater, but photocatalysis has significant features that set it apart. This wastewater treatment technique is not only cost-effective, but it can also be readily scaled up to handle large volumes. There is no need to use costly or perhaps harmful chemicals. The application of this approach has the potential to clear the environment of microplastics, medications, and other developing types of pollution.

Mucilage is a viscous, gel-like material present in many plants, including aloe vera, cactus, and okra. Because of its unique features, such as its ability to lower surface tension and stabilize emulsions, mucilage has been investigated as a possible alternative to synthetic surfactants. Surfactants are substances that may lessen the surface tension between two liquids or between a liquid and a solid, making it easier for them to mix and interact. They are frequently utilized in a broad range of applications, such as cleaning, foaming, and emulsification. The use of mucilage as a surfactant for photocatalysts has the potential to increase photocatalytic reaction efficiency. Photocatalysts are materials that may enhance chemical reactions when exposed to light, and they are commonly employed in wastewater treatment and air purification to degrade contaminants.

In this work, we studied the possibility of spray coating photocatalyst onto a substrate with cactus mucilage to improve the chemical structure of the photocatalyst. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) doped Zinc oxide thin films were produced onto glass substrates utilizing a spray coating method at various annealing temperatures and concentrations. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze the new photocatalyst (TEM). S degradation was used to assess photocatalytic activity. aureus, as well as E. coli