Efficient Removal of Toxic Dyes via Simultaneous Adsorption and Solar Light Driven Photodegradation Using Recyclable Functionalized Amylopectin-TiO₂-Au Nanocomposite

Herein, functionalized amylopectin and in situ generated TiO₂ and Au nanoparticles (NPs)-based nanocomposite with excellent toxic organic dye removal capacity, via synergistic effects of adsorption and photocatalytic degradation, along with enhanced antimicrobial activity, is reported. The TiO₂ and TiO₂-AuNPs incorporated nanocomposites (g-AP-pAA/TiO₂, g-AP-pAA/TiO₂-Au) have been synthesized by the addition of ethanolic solution of titanium isopropoxide (Ti-ⁱPr) followed by HAuCl₄ to the gelling matrix of functionalized amylopectin. Characterization results confirm the formation of uniform distribution of anatase TiO₂ (5-8 nm) and Au (7-15 nm) NPs in the polymer matrix. The synthesized g-AP-pAA/TiO₂-Au nanocomposite demonstrates excellent potential to remove dyes from concentrated aqueous dye solution via simultaneous adsorption followed by photocatalytic degradation under sunlight through plasmonic photocatalysis. Synthesized g-AP-pAA/TiO₂-Au is capable of removing one specific dye from a mixture of dyes. In addition, the photo induced bacterial (Escherichia coli) growth inhibition characteristics of the composite indicate the development of a novel new generation sustainable and cost-effective polymeric nanocomposite.