Removal of nicotine from indoor air using titania-modified polypropylene fibers: nicotine decomposition by titania-modified polypropylene fibers

Textile materials, because of their specific character, can affect the content of volatile pollutants in the indoor air, including the constituents of tobacco smoke (ETS—environmental tobacco smoke). Polypropylene fibers have a particularly high susceptibility for the sorption of nicotine. Textiles made of polypropylene are often used in different rooms or offices. The aim of the research was to give polypropylene fibers the photocatalytic properties by modifying their surface, using titanium dioxide doped with nanoparticles of silver (TiO₂/Ag). Modification of polypropylene fibers with TiO₂/Ag increases their susceptibility to sorption of nicotine and accelerates its decomposition. A comparison of the decomposition rate constants for the modified and unmodified fibers shows that the decomposition process runs from 1.6 to 2.9 times faster for the modified fibers depending on the nature of modification, the source of the nicotine and the ambient conditions. It was also found that the strength of modified fibers does not change under irradiation.