Sustainable application of TiO2 nanoparticles to purify dye-contaminated wastewater by exploring their photocatalytic and antibacterial properties

Discharging dye-contaminated wastewater from different industries into the environment directly and indirectly threatens aquatic wildlife, soil-dwelling animals, plants, and other living beings, including humans. TiO2 nanoparticles, due to their ability to degrade dyes, can partially address the issue. In this study, TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized and proposed to degrade the dyes released by the textile and dye production sectors through their photocatalytic characteristics that might provide a novel solution in this highly contaminated environment. Nevertheless, TiO₂ nanoparticles can effectively combat the harmful bacteria described in the article by exerting their antibacterial activity against pathogenic E. coli. Bacterial degradation by visible light is frequently regarded as superior to UV light degradation because of its increased safety, energy efficiency, and wider range of applications. It can be used in open spaces without the need for strict shielding. This increases the viability and environmental friendliness of visible light-based systems for practical uses, including antimicrobial surfaces and wastewater treatment. Structural and physico-chemical properties of the prepared TiO2 NPs were confirmed by FTIR, XRD, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and FESEM with EDX. Our findings were further validated through a phytotoxicity study conducted using dye-contaminated water and dye-degraded water treated with TiO₂ nanoparticles.