Application of high specific surface area Ag/AgCl/TiO2 coupled photocatalyst fabricated by fused filament fabrication

• Published in: International journal of advanced manufacturing technology Vol. 120; no. 7-8; pp. 4539 - 4550
• Main Authors: Yang, Zheng-Rong, Lee, Po-Ching, Kuo, Chun-Yu, Shin, Chung-Hao, Lin, Ching-Bin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01.06.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anatase; Binder removal; CAE) and Design; Chemical precipitation; Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD; Durability; Dyes; E coli; Engineering; Fused deposition modeling; Industrial and Production Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Media Management; Modules; Nanoparticles; Original Article; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Photodegradation; Pollutants; Reliability; Specific surface; Stearic acid; Sterilization; Surface area; Three dimensional printing; Titanium dioxide; Ultraviolet radiation; Silver chloride; Fused filament fabrication; Reliability; Methyl blue dye
• ISSN: 0268-3768; 1433-3015
• DOI: 10.1007/s00170-022-09038-x

This study used a three-dimensional (3D) printing process to develop the Ag/AgCl/TiO 2 coupled photocatalyst with a specific surface area of 748 mm 2 /g. We examined the catalytic capability of this photocatalyst in degrading methyl blue (MB) dye and sterilizing Escherichia coli as well as the durability and reliability of its continuous use. A TiO 2 module was constructed through fused filament fabrication (FFF), and the adopted 3D printing filament was composed of anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles, stearic acid, wax, and a plasticizer. The green compact of the TiO 2 module was subjected to solvent debinding, thermal debinding, and sintering to obtain a fundamental structure that was subsequently coupled with AgCl through a precipitation reaction. Ultraviolet radiation was used for the photoreduction to obtain the Ag/AgCl/TiO 2 coupled photocatalyst coupling module. This photocatalyst can effectively degrade MB dye and disinfect E. coli . The degradation of MB dye and sterilization of E. coli were conducted under visible and ultraviolet light. The degradation of MB dye by the Ag/AgCl/TiO 2 coupled photocatalyst was a first-order reaction. In addition, this coupled photocatalyst could retain its MB dye degradation rate (95%) for five cycles. E. coli was sterilized using the prepared photocatalytic module in a 120-min test, and this sterilization phenomenon could be presented as a hyperbolic reaction. The photocatalytic module manufactured in this study through FFF could efficiently degrade pollutants in water, and its durability and reliability after repeated use have been approved.