Titania-coated plastic optical fiber fabrics for remote photocatalytic degradation of aqueous pollutants

Plastic optical fiber fabrics are widely utilized as efficient support materials owing to their high flexibility. In this study, we have investigated a remote photocatalysis system using modified plastic optical fiber fabrics. We successfully deposited TiO₂ onto a modified plastic optical fiber fabric using the dip-coating method. The drying temperature was fixed at 50 °C in order to inhibit the decomposition of the fabric. The TiO_2-coated woven plastic optical fiber fabric was applied to the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and the simultaneous oxidation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and reduction of Cr(VI). The degradation of MB by direct photolysis, or through dark reactions of the adsorbed MB on the surface of the fabric, was not observed. MB degradation increased with increasing TiO₂ loading, Pt deposition, increasing solution pH, and decreasing initial MB concentration. Repeated testing in the above-mentioned degradation and simultaneous redox reactions revealed that the TiO₂-coated woven plastic optical fiber fabrics retain good activity after multiple cycles. On the basis of these results, we propose that plastic optical fiber fabrics together with photocatalysts are suitable for remote (in situ) advanced oxidation process useful for the remediation of contaminated soil or groundwater.