In Situ Synthesis of Photocatalytically
Active Hybrids Consisting of Bacterial Nanocellulose and Anatase Nanoparticles
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Abstract
Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is an extraordinary biopolymer
with a wide range of potential technical applications. The high specific
surface area and the interconnected pore system of the nanofibrillar
BNC network suggest applications as a carrier of catalysts. The present
paper describes an in situ modification route for the preparation
of a hybrid material consisting of BNC and photocatalytically active
anatase (TiO<sub>2</sub>) nanoparticles (NPs). The influence of different
NP concentrations on the BNC biosynthesis and the resulting supramolecular
structure of the hybrids was investigated. It was found that the number
of colony forming units (CFUs) and the consumption of glucose during
biosynthesis remained unaffected compared to unmodified BNC. During
the formation of the BNC network, the NPs were incorporated in the
whole volume of the accruing hybrid. Their distribution within the
hybrid material is affected by the anisotropic structure of BNC. The
photocatalytic activity (PCA) of the BNC-TiO<sub>2</sub> hybrids was
determined by methanol conversion (MC) under UV irradiation. These
tests demonstrated that the NPs retained their PCA after incorporation
into the BNC carrier structure. The PCA of the hybrid material depends
on the amount of incorporated NPs. No alteration of the photocatalyst’s
efficiency was found during repeated PCA tests. In conclusion, the
in situ integration of photocatalytically active NPs into BNC represents
an attractive possibility to extend its fields of application to porous
filtering media for drinking water purification and air cleaning