Cellulose acetate/polyurethane blend as support matrix with high optical transparency and improved mechanical properties for photocatalyst CeO2 nanoparticles immobilization

Violeta Melinte; Madalina Elena Culica; Andreea Laura Chibac-Scutaru

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126210

Cellulose acetate/polyurethane blend as support matrix with high optical transparency and improved mechanical properties for photocatalyst CeO₂ nanoparticles immobilization

Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 Aug 12:251:126210. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126210. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Violeta Melinte¹, Madalina Elena Culica², Andreea Laura Chibac-Scutaru³

Affiliations

¹ Polyaddition and Photochemistry Department, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487, Iasi, Romania. Electronic address: viomel@icmpp.ro.
² Polyaddition and Photochemistry Department, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487, Iasi, Romania.
³ Polyaddition and Photochemistry Department, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487, Iasi, Romania. Electronic address: andreea.chibac@icmpp.ro.

PMID: 37579894
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126210

Abstract

Advanced manufacturing technologies for efficient catalytic materials have triggered the rational design of catalysts as well as extensive investigation into preparative methodologies. Herein, we report the preparation of new versatile cellulose acetate/polyurethane (CA/PU) blends for efficient immobilization of CeO₂ nanoparticles, the appropriate composition of polymer mixture being chosen after rigorous analysis (SEM, FTIR, optical, mechanical). The band gap energy for hybrid films ranged between 3.02 eV and 2.05 eV, the lowest value being measured for the film with Co-doped CeO₂ NPs (B3 film). The best results in photodegradation of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation was attained after 50 min for B3 film (rate constant k = 45.34× 10^-3 min^-1), while the total mineralization of MB in the same conditions as evaluated by HPLC-ESI MS and TOC analyses was achieved after 90 min. Effect of co-ions (SO₄^2-, Cl^- or NO₃^-) on photocatalytic performance was studied, and scavenger tests were used to identify the active species involved in the photocatalytic mechanism. Also, the photocatalytic efficiency of B3 sample was tested for rhodamine B, metronidazole and 4-nitrophenol degradation. Evaluation of the stability and integrity of hybrid film after 5 catalysis cycles reveal that the photocatalytic potential is retained with no substantial structural changes.

Keywords: CeO(2) nanoparticles; Cellulose acetate/polyurethane blends; Hybrid films; Photocatalysis; Pollutant removal.