A team of researchers at the University of Aveiro (UA) has developed a new material, derived from industrial waste, capable of removing pollutants from water, according to an academic source released today.
According to a press release, the work uses the red mud produced during the refining of bauxite to create three-dimensional structures through 3D printing, which function as advanced filters.
Researchers from the Department of Chemistry and the Aveiro Institute of Materials (CICECO) integrated carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide to trigger photocatalytic reactions under ultraviolet light.
The material removed more than 90 percent of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in one hour and completely eliminated ciprofloxacin in 30 minutes, according to the university note.
According to the information, “the system maintains the decontamination capacity over several cycles of use and demonstrates effectiveness in complex mixtures of contaminants.”
“The study combines waste valorization with the circular economy and creates new sustainable solutions for the treatment of contaminated water,” highlights the UA.
Participants in the study were Nuno Gonçalves, Ricardo Silva, Tito Trindade and Rui Novais, from the Department of Chemistry, the Aveiro Institute of Materials (CICECO) and the Department of Materials and Ceramics.
