Non-Thermal Plasma Synthesis of TiO2 Nanoparticles for Environmental Applications: Adsorption Studies
نویسندگان
1 Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Alnahrain University, Baghdad, IRAQ
2 Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Alnahrain University, Baghdad, IRAQ
3 Medical Laboratory Techniques Department, College of Health and Medical Technology, University of Al-Maarif, Anbar, IRAQ
4 Department of Experimental Sciences, Namazi Elite High School, Shiraz, I.R. IRAN
5 Department of Dentistry, College of Dentistry, The Islamic University, Najaf, IRAQ
6 Department of Medical Analysis, Medical Laboratory Technique College, Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, IRAQ
7 Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, Al-Nisour University College, Nisour Seq. Karkh, Baghdad, IRAQ
doi
10.30492/ijcce.2025.2065404.7191چکیده
The increasing prevalence of pharmaceutical contaminants in aquatic environments, particularly antibiotics, poses serious ecological risks and contributes to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Conventional wastewater treatment processes are insufficient for removing these persistent pollutants. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles, owing to their high surface area, adsorption capacity, and antibacterial properties, offer a promising solution. This study investigates the synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles via a Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP) method and evaluates their multifunctional performance for environmental remediation. TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized from titanium tetrachloride under ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure using N₂/Ar plasma for 25 min. Nanoparticles were characterized by FESEM, EFTEM, DLS, zeta potential, XRD, FT-IR, UV–Vis, TGA/DTG, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis. Adsorption studies used methyl orange and antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, and doripenem), with Langmuir, Freundlich, and Toth isotherms modeling adsorption behavior. Antibacterial activity was assessed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. TiO₂ nanoparticles displayed a mean size of 25.2 ± 4.53 nm (FESEM), high crystallinity (anatase, 13.6 nm), a surface area of 112.4 m²/g, and mesoporosity (~10 nm pores). Zeta potential (−39 mV) indicated colloidal stability. TGA showed minimal weight loss above 500 °C, with major loss (400–450 °C) due to surface-bound organics. Methyl orange adsorption exceeded 80% under optimal conditions, and antibiotic removal followed Langmuir/Toth isotherms, with doripenem showing the highest affinity. MIC values were ~0.124 mg/mL for both bacterial strains. Plasma-assisted TiO₂ nanoparticles integrate high crystallinity, mesoporosity, adsorption efficiency, and antibacterial activity, providing a scalable, sustainable strategy for simultaneous removal of dyes and antibiotics, with significant potential to mitigate pharmaceutical pollution and antibiotic resistance.
