Piezo-Photo-Fenton Catalyst For Oral Antibacterial And Wastewater Treatment

This study aims to develop a synergistic piezoelectric-photo-Fenton catalytic system based on iron-based ferromagnetic materials, enabling the fabrication of multifunctional antibacterial piezoelectric nanomaterials. It is designed for the simultaneous degradation of organic pollutants and bacterial inactivation in dental wastewater treatment Fe₂O₃-BT nanocomposites were synthesized using hydrothermal and chemical precipitation methods, followed by the construction of a piezo-photo-Fenton synergistic catalytic system. The structure and morphology of the material were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Antibacterial activity was evaluated through colony-forming unit (CFU) counts and the MTT assay, with ultrasonic excitation at 40 kHz (150 W) applied to enhance the catalytic process. Unlike conventional Fenton-like systems that require external H₂O₂, this system generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in situ under piezoelectric excitation and light irradiation, with singlet oxygen (¹O₂) being the dominant species. Consequently, it effectively degrades organic substances such as dental pigments and tobacco stains, while efficiently inactivating common waterborne pathogens, including Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The system demonstrates broad-spectrum, non-selective antibacterial activity, achieving significantly higher biofilm inhibition rates compared to traditional antimicrobial strategies. Fe₂O₃-BT nanocomposite exhibits a remarkable synergistic effect in degrading organic pollutants and inactivating bacteria, offering an efficient, low-cost, and H₂O₂-independent strategy for dental wastewater treatment. This study provides a novel material-based approach to addressing microbial contamination in clinical and environmental settings.