Project: “NaViTex”

TiO₂ nanoparticles for the photocatalytic oxidation of dyes in wastewater from the textile industry in Vietnam

The German-Vietnamese research project “NaViTex” aimed to develop photocatalytic oxidation processes for wastewater treatment in the textile and garment industry, specifically designed for tropical regions. Due to the limited biological degradation of dyes in conventional wastewater treatment plants, treating wastewater from the textile industry proves to be challenging. One option for water purification is the use of high-energy UV-C radiation, which can break down difficult-to-degrade organic compounds. However, this method is associated with very high energy costs. Alternatively, photocatalytic oxidation—using titanium dioxide (TiO₂) as a catalyst—presents a promising approach. TiO₂ can completely oxidize nearly all organic substances when exposed to UV-A radiation. Compared to the use of UV-C lamps, this process requires significantly less energy.

The aim of the GMBU Department “Functional Coatings” was to develop photocatalytically active TiO₂ coatings through modifications in synthesis and deposition techniques, enabling the utilization of longer wavelengths of light, beyond UV-A, for photocatalytic activity. By modifying the TiO₂ coatings with silver (Ag) and nitrogen (N), the range of the light spectrum usable for photocatalytic activation was extended. This enabled the use of less energy-rich visible light range (> 400 nm, UV-vis) for dye degradation, effectively allowing sunlight to serve as an additional energy source. Materials such as glass fibers and highly porous ceramics were used as substrates for the photocatalytic coatings and were successfully implemented in pilot plants in Vietnam.

Project partners:

• Institute for Research and Development of Natural Products (INAPRO) – Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), Vietnam
• Institute of Materials Science and Max Bergmann Center for Biomaterials (MBZ) – Technical University of Dresden (TUD), Germany
• UMEX GmbH – Dresden, Germany
• GMBU e.V. – Department “Functional Coating” – Dresden, Germany

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ANSPRECHPARTNER:
Dr. Ulrich Soltmann
Fachsektion Dresden – “Funktionelle Schichten”
Tel.: 0351 / 2695 343
E-Mail: soltmann@gmbu.de