Electrochemical characterization of insulating silica-modified electrodes: Transport properties and physicochemical features

TiO2-SiO2-PMMA Terpolymer Floating Device for the Photocatalytic Remediation of Water and Gas Phase Pollutants

Floating photocatalytic devices are highly sought-after as they represent good candidates for practical application in pollutant remediation of large water basins. Here, we present a multilayer floating device for the photocatalytic remediation of contaminants present in water as well as of volatile species close to the water surface. The device was prepared on a novel tailored ter-polymer substrate based on methylmethacrylate, α-methylstyrene and perfluoroctyl methacrylate. The ad hoc synthesized support presents optimal characteristics in terms of buoyancy, transparency, gas permeability, mechanical, UV and thermal stability. The adhesion of the TiO2 top layer was favoured by the adopted casting procedure, followed by a corona pre-treatment and by the deposition of an intermediate SiO2 layer, the latter aimed also at protecting the polymer support from photocatalytic oxidation. The device was characterized by contact angle measurement, UV-vis transmittance and scanning electron microscopy. The final device was tested for the photocatalytic degradation of an emerging water pollutant as well as of vapors of a model volatile organic compound. Relevant activity was observed also under simulated solar irradiation and the device showed good stability and recyclability, prospecting its use for the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in large water basins.

Nanostructured TiO₂ Carbon Paste Based Sensor for Determination of Methyldopa

Methyldopa is a catecholamine widely used in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension whose determination in pharmaceutical formulae is of upmost importance for dose precision. Henceforth, a low-cost carbon paste electrode (CPE) consisting of graphite powder obtained from a crushed pencil stick was herein modified with nanostructured TiO₂ (TiO₂@CPE) aiming for the detection of methyldopa in pharmaceutical samples. The TiO₂-modified graphite powder was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, which demonstrated the oxide nanostructured morphology. Results evidenced that sensitivity was nonetheless increased due to electro-catalytic effects promoted by metal modification, and linear response obtained by differential pulse voltammetry for the determination of methyldopa (pH = 5.0) was between 10⁻180 μmol/L (Limit of Detection = 1 μmol/L) with the TiO₂@CPE sensor. Furthermore, the constructed sensor was successfully applied in the detection of methyldopa in pharmaceutical formulations and excipients promoted no interference, that indicates that the sensor herein developed is a cheap, reliable, and useful strategy to detect methyldopa in pharmaceutical samples, and may also be applicable in determinations of similar compounds.