A multifaceted aggregation and toxicity assessment study of sol-gel-based TiO2 nanoparticles during textile wastewater treatment

Abstract

Innovative textiles have been concern of emerging risk of nanoparticles (NPs) to human and environment. This study aimed to investigate the aggregation, removal and biological, and ecotoxicological effects of sol-gel-based TiO2 NPs while the treatment of textile wastewater. Fe(II) and alum coagulants were applied for the removal of spiked TiO2 NPs from textile wastewater. Particle size distribution, absorbance values (UV-vis range), and residual TiO2 NPs were followed to define aggregation mechanism, including pH variation during treatment of wastewater. The effect of TiO2 on activated sludge treatment was followed by monitoring of oxygen uptake rate (OUR). Ecotoxicity of sol-gel and coagulated samples was observed by Ceriodaphnia magna immobilization test. Adjustment of pH to 8 enlarged mean particle size distribution of sol-gel-based TiO2 NPs from 30 to 450nm. After alum and Fe(II) coagulations, average particle size distributions were observed to be 650 and 960nm, respectively. Coagulation with alum and Fe(II) resulted over >95% removal of TiO2 from biologically treated textile wastewater (BTTWW). The value for residual TiO2 concentration in BTTWW was reduced from 120g/L to around 8g/L TiO2 NPs exhibited slight/no toxicity on the OUR while toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia increased in some coagulated samples, most probably due to higher residual coagulant concentrations.