Synthesis and Characterization of TiO₂ Nanoparticles for the Reduction of Water Pollutants.

The aim of this manuscript was the optimization of the synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) with conditions that could be easily reproducible at the industrial level. Several procedures were tested and those with C12 H28 O₄Ti and CO(NH₂)₂ as precursors seemed the most promising and, consequently, were improved with different molar ratios, lower temperatures and the addition of NH₄Cl as a secondary dopant of nitrogen. The obtained samples were studied with analytical techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). To complete the study, dye degradation and bacteriological tests were also performed. The results indicate that it is possible to obtain TiO₂ NPs at lower temperatures with respect to those used in the literature; the best candidate that could satisfy all the requirements was a sample with a molar ratio of C12 H28 O₄Ti:CO(NH₂)₂ at 2:1 and obtained at 50 °C.