Novel Photo-Driven Activated Enzyme-Titanium Nanobiohybrids for Photocatalytic Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Conventional titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle synthesis faces limitations in controlled material properties and harsh reaction conditions.
• Developing sustainable and efficient photocatalysts is crucial for environmental remediation, particularly for degrading persistent organic pollutants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop innovative enzyme-titanium nanobiohybrids using a protein-assisted approach for enhanced photocatalysis.
• To overcome the limitations of conventional TiO2 synthesis by enabling controlled material properties under milder, scalable conditions.
• To investigate the photocatalytic efficiency of these nanobiohybrids for the degradation of persistent dye pollutants.

Main Methods:

• Bio-assisted synthesis using beta-glucosidase as a protein scaffold, TiCl4 as the titanium precursor, and H2O2 in bicarbonate buffer at room temperature.
• Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine crystal structure and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for morphology and size analysis.
• Photocatalytic degradation experiments using Rhodamine B as a model pollutant under UV and visible light, with catalyst preactivation studies.

Main Results:

• The synthesized Ti-hybrid comprised TiO2 brookite species with well-dispersed nanostructures around 700 nm.
• Achieved >99% degradation of Rhodamine B within 1 hour under UV light, significantly outperforming visible light activity.
• Demonstrated high efficiency in degrading Rhodamine B at concentrations substantially above water quality thresholds.
• Preactivation with UV-395 nm light significantly enhanced photocatalytic efficiency.
• Exhibited excellent recyclability over five cycles and good storage stability.

Conclusions:

• The protein-assisted synthesis offers a sustainable, mild, and efficient route for creating Ti-based nanobiohybrids.
• These nanobiohybrids show promising potential as advanced photocatalysts for water treatment and environmental remediation.
• The controlled morphology and enhanced activity make them suitable for degrading challenging organic pollutants.