Miniemulsion polymerization technique enhancement: the photocatalysis of commercial rutile-TiO₂ hybrids with nano poly(methyl methacrylate)

ABSTRACT

The study of photocatalysis properties of the pristine poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/TiO₂ hybrids has been investigated. The miniemulsion technique was employed to prepare the encapsulation of titanium dioxide nano particles in poly(methyl methacrylate) beads prior used. The contents of nano TiO₂ particles were various from 1%wt to 10%wt. The particles sizes of the TiO₂-encapsulated PMMA hybrids were examined by dynamic light scattering. It was noticed that the particle size of the hybrids was in the range of 78.7–109.9 nm with narrow size distribution. The well-defined structure and embedded morphology of PMMA/TiO₂ hybrids were explored using scanning electron microscopy. The degradation of methylene blue (MB) was measured under UV-A irradiation from 0–8 h in order to determine the photocatalytic activities of PMMA/TiO₂ hybrids. The results show that the 10%wt TiO₂ of PMMA hybrids presented the best performance of MB decolorization up to 60% under 2 h of irradiation time. The HR-TEM was also employed to observe the PMMA/TiO₂ hybrids. It was noticed that the FFT images demonstrated the crystalline pattern of PMMA hybrids, corresponding to nano TiO₂. It was indicated that the TiO₂ were encapsulated in PMMA hybrids. Two types of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Gram-negative bacteria) were employed to examine the antibacterial properties of PMMA/TiO₂ hybrids. It was found that both S. aureus and K. pneumoniae were dramatically decreased more than 99.95% and 99.92% within 24 h, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Hybrids
• titanium dioxide
• miniemulsion
• encapsulation
• photocatalytic
• antibacterial

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand, for financial support. This research was funded by the King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok Contract No. KMUTNB-60-GOV-44.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the KMUTNB [KMUTNB-60-GOV-44].

Notes on contributors

Siripan Metanawin

Siripan Metanawin, obtained his PhD degree from University of Leeds, UK. She is currently working as an Assistant professor in the Department of Textile Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (Rmutt), Thailand. Her research interests are design of a wide range of state-of-the-art functional polymeric materials, miniemulsion polymerization, living polymerization, ring-opening polymerization; polymer nanocomposite, polymer hybrid; fiber forming, melt spinning, electrospinning.

Nuttaphong Sornsuwit

Nuttaphong Sornsuwit, obtained his D.Eng. from the university of electro-communications, Japan. Currently working as an Assistant professor in the Department of Materials and Production Technology Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB). His research interests are additive manufacturing, single point incremental forming, wear properties in metal-polymer interface.

Tanapak Metanawin

Tanapak Metanawin, obtained his PhD degree from University of Leeds, UK. He is currently working as an Assistantprofessor in the Department of materials and production technology engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's university of technology north Bangkok (Kmutnb), Thailand. His research interests are functional polymeric materials, miniemulsion polymerization, polymer self-assembly, living polymerization; polymer nanocomposite and polymer hybrid materials; fiber forming, melt spinning and electrospinning.