Hossein Ali Rangkooy, Mojtaba Seraji, ,
Volume 15, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Introduction: One of the most common pollutants in industrial and confined environments is toluene. Toluene can be removed in various ways. The simultaneous and integrated use of two methods—adsorption and photocatalytic degradation—in a single process is an important innovation in the removal of gaseous toluene. The aim of this study is to determine the efficiency of a synthesized reduced graphene oxide/carbon nanotube/titanium dioxide (RGO/CNT/TiO2) nanocomposite aerogel in the photocatalytic degradation and adsorption of toluene vapors.
Material and Methods: In this study, RGO/CNT/TiO2 and RGO/TiO2 aerogels were prepared using a one-pot hydrothermal self-assembly method. The properties of the photocatalytic aerogels were investigated using BET testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Aerogels were loaded on a substrate in a photoreactor with two UV-C lamps using dynamic flow. Adsorption efficiency was measured when irradiation was off, and photocatalytic degradation efficiency was measured when irradiation was on using an instantaneous reading device.
Results: Adding CNTs to RGO/TiO2 affects the specific surface area (SSA) and the porous structure of the aerogels. During the processes of adsorption and photocatalytic degradation using RGO/CNT%5/TiO2, the concentration of toluene vapor pollutant decreased from 20 ppm to 3.4 ppm, indicating an efficiency of 81%. In contrast, RGO/TiO2 demonstrated an efficiency of 43.41%.
Conclusion: The results demonstrated that adding CNTs to RGO/TiO2 aerogel significantly improves photocatalytic performance for the degradation of toluene vapor. This enhanced performance is attributed to increased light absorption, an improved electron and hole recombination rate, as well as the facilitation of electron transition from titanium nanoparticles to the graphene structure.
Aysa Ghasemi Koozekonan, Somayeh Farhang Dehghan, Majid Montazer, Mostafa Pouyakian,
Volume 16, Issue 2 (9-2026)
Abstract
Introduction: Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals has created an urgent need for the development of protective clothing with both breathability and effective protection. This research aimed to modify the surface of cotton fabric using a novel composite coating consisting of silica (SiO₂) aerogel and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to achieve breathability, superhydrophobicity, and chemical resistance simultaneously.
Material and Methods: Cotton fabric samples were coated via immersion in suspensions of PDMS and PDMS/SiO₂ composite. The physical, structural, and functional properties of the coated samples (C/PDMS and C/PDMS/SiO₂) and the uncoated control sample (C) were analyzed using FESEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, air permeability, tensile strength, water contact angle, and chemical resistance tests against four chemicals (water, toluene, acetic acid, and dimethylformamide).
Results: Results demonstrated that the PDMS/SiO₂ composite coating was effectively stabilized on the fabric surface. The composite-coated sample (C/PDMS/SiO₂) achieved superhydrophobicity with a remarkable contact angle of 168°. Furthermore, the coating resulted in a 60% reduction in air permeability compared to the uncoated fabric, indicating the formation of a dense protective structure. In terms of chemical resistance, the composite-coated samples exhibited significant performance improvements. Acetic acid penetration decreased from 17% to 1%, whereas the absorption capacity for toluene increased from 12% to 67%, and for dimethylformamide from 17% to 59%. Additionally, the coating led to a notable enhancement in the fabric’s tensile strength.
Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal that the PDMS/SiO₂ composite coating holds high potential for application in protective textiles with multifunctional capabilities, including exceptional water repellency, improved chemical resistance, and retained breathability.
