Synthesis, characterization of vanadium-doped titanate nanotubes nanocatalysts towards degradation of methyl orange, bacteria, and fungus

The dye degradation, antibacterial and antifungal properties of nanotubes based on titanium and vanadium have been investigated. The vanadium doped titanate nanotubes were obtained using hydrothermal method at different vanadium amount. The textural and morphological properties of nanotubes are determined using X-ray diffraction, UV–Visible in reflection diffuse, thermogravimetric analysis, adsorption–desorption of N 2 and Raman spectroscopy. The results of the characterizations showed a significant specific surface areas, interested gap energy and important thermal stability of the obtained nanotubes. However, the degradation of Methyl Orange dye was evaluated by three advanced oxidation process: UV–Visible/catalyst, H 2 O 2 /catalyst and H 2 O 2 /UV–Visible/catalyst. The results of the catalytic activity confirm that the UV–Visible/H 2 O 2 /catalyst process shows the best conversions that reach 100% after just a few minutes with a mineralization rates that reached 61%. In the other hand, the antibacterial activity of nanotubes was tested on four kind of strains, two negative [i.e. Escherichia coli ( E.c. ) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( P.a. ), and two positive (i.e. Staphylococcus aureus ( S.a. ) and Bacillus cereus ( B.c. )]. However, the antifungal activity was studied using three strains: Candida albicans , Trichosporon sp. and Rhodotorula sp. The studied materials showed a low inhibition of bacteria but an interesting antifungal power especially in the case of 5% V-TiNTs. The obtained results make the V-TiNTs promising materials for further environment and health applications.