Work

Metal-Doped TiO2 Optical Fiber Textiles for Concurrent Removal of Airborne Bacteria and Volatile Organic Compounds

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study focuses on the application of photocatalysis for air pollution, targeting both chemical and biological contaminants. The selected target compounds were 3-methylbutan-1-ol (C5H12O), a volatile organic compound abundantly generated in the food industry, and Escherichia coli, representing a relevant bacterial indicator commonly encountered in such industrial environments and effectively embodying a biological threat. In this work, a series of experiments was conducted in a batch reactor using a novel TiO2-based photocatalytic system integrating metal wires, namely copper (Cu) and silver (Ag), woven into an optical fiber support. A comparative evaluation of photocatalytic performance across different media was carried out for the removal of 3-methylbutan-1-ol, as well as for E. coli deactivation. The results demonstrated notable performance of the TiO2-Cu medium for chemical treatment, achieving 97% removal efficiency after 85 min at an inlet concentration of 28 mg·m−3. Similarly, significant antibacterial activity was observed with 5.50 log reduction in colony-forming units (CFU) after 2.5 h. The photocatalytic performance of TiO2-Cu supports was further validated under different operating conditions, including relative humidity levels ranging from 20% to 60% and concentration range from 5–30 mg·m−3. Finally, this study also includes a comparison between the TiO2-Cu support and conventional photocatalytic systems based on TiO2, particularly for simultaneous (combined) treatment of chemical and biological contaminants, with promising and encouraging outcomes.

Source: Catalysts

DOI: 10.3390/catal16050465