Title:Curcumin-assisted Preparation of α-Fe2O3@TiO2 Nanocomposites
for Antibacterial and Photocatalytic Activity
Volume: 19
Issue: 4
Author(s): Anuskha Kala, Krati Saini, Sanjeev Kimothi, Rashmi Verma, Kamal K. Kar and Pankaj Chamoli*
Affiliation:
- School of Basic & Applied Sciences, Department of Physics, Shri Guru
Ram Rai University, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India
Keywords:
Biogenic synthesis, curcumin, TiO2, α-Fe2O3, bactericidal activity, photodegradation.
Abstract: Background: Harmful microorganisms like pathogens significantly impact
human health. Meanwhile, industrial growth causes pollution and water contamination
by releasing untreated hazardous waste. Effective treatment of these microorganisms and
contaminants is essential, and nanocomposites may be a promising solution. The present
attempt demonstrates the green synthesis of α-Fe2O3@TiO2 nanocomposites (FTNCs) for
the effective treatment of pathogens and organic contaminants.
Methods: The FTNCs have been synthesized through a green approach utilizing curcumin
extract. Curcumin (Turmeric) extract (TEx) was prepared by washing, drying, and
crushing 5 g of turmeric, then boiling it in 100 mL distilled water at 70°C for 1 hour.
Metal salts (Fe3+/Ti4+, 2:1) were added to 100 mL of TEx under continuous stirring at
70°C for 24 h. The solution was rinsed and dried at 80°C overnight and heated at 300°C
for 3 h to remove impurities.
Results: Synthesized FTNCs have been tested for the potent antibacterial activity
against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis)
and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella Abony, Pseudomonas
sp.). Observations discovered noteworthy inhibition of both Gram-positive and Gramnegative
bacteria by FTNCs. Furthermore, the FTNCs system shows the energy band
gap of ~2.6 eV which may suppress electron recombination, thereby enhancing photocatalysis.
The photo-degradation is examined against Evans blue (EB) and Congo red
(CR) dyes under UV and visible light (125 W) irradiation. The remarkable photocatalytic
degradation efficiency (DE) for CR reached ~67.4% in 60 min.
Conclusion: A simple green approach has been demonstrated for the synthesis of the
FTNCs using curcumin-mediated reduction. As prepared FTNCs have been evaluated for
potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus
subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella
Abony, Pseudomonas sp.). The results show that the highest zone of inhibition diameter
values have been obtained for 5 mg/mL concertation of FTNCs of ~14, 22,18, 21, and
20 and 29 mm for E. coli, S. abony, S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. faecalis, and Pseudomonas
sp., respectively. Additionally, FTNCs demonstrate remarkable photocatalytic degradation
efficiency against EB and CR dyes under UV (125 W) irradiation, achieving 56,
67% degradation within 60 min, respectively. The findings indicate that FTNCs show
long-term antimicrobial effectiveness and potential for water treatment through photocatalysis.
This examination highlights recent advancements in intellectual property rights
(IPR) and patent strategies, shedding light on how patents influence eco-friendly synthesis
and the development of multifunctional, high-performance nanocomposites.
