Micropartículas de poli (ácido láctico)/ poloxámero obtids por spray drying para liberação modificada de metotrexatro

New drug delivery systems have been used to increase chemotherapy efficacy due the possible drug resistance of cancer cells. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) microparticles are able to reduce toxicity and prolong methotrexate (MTX) release. In addition, the use of PLA/poloxamer polymer blends can improve drug release due to changes in the interaction of particles with biological surfaces. The aim of this study was developing spray dried biodegradable MTX-loaded microparticles and evaluate PLA interactions with different kinds of Pluronic® (PLUF127 and PLUF68) in order to modulate drug release. The variables included different drug:polymer (1:10, 1:4.5, 1:3) and polymer:copolymer ratios (25:75, 50:50, 75:25). The precision and accuracy of spray drying method was confirmed assessing drug loading into particles (75.0- 101.3%). The MTX/PLA microparticles showed spherical shape with an apparently smooth surface, which was dependent on the PLU ratio used into blends particles. XRD and thermal analysis demonstrated that the drug was homogeneously dispersed into polymer matrix, whereas the miscibility among components was dependent on the used polymer:copolymer ratio. No new drug- polymer bond was identified by FTIR analysis. The in vitro performance of MTX-loaded PLA microparticles demonstrated an extended-release profile fitted using Korsmeyer- Peppas kinetic model. The PLU accelerated drug release rate possible due PLU leached in the matrix. Nevertheless, drug release studies carried out in cell culture demonstrated the ability of PLU modulating drug release from blend microparticles. This effect was confirmed by cytotoxicity observed according to the amount of drug released as a function of time. Thus, studied PLU was able to improve the performance of spray dried MTX-loaded PLA microparticles, which can be successfully used as carries for modulated drug delivery with potential in vivo application

Estudo térmico e de materiais de um compósito à base de gesso e EPS para construção de casas populares

A housing unit was built to study the thermal performance, and of material using a composite made of gypsum and EPS ground. We used two techniques of construction, using blocks, and filling on the spot. Two compositions of the composite were studied. The blocks were fixed using conventional mortar. In the technical of filling on the spot were used PET bottles up inside the walls to provide mechanical and thermal resistance. Compression tests were realized according to the ABNT standard of sealing bricks. It is going to be shown an analysis of the thermal comfort through the use of thermocouples placed on the walls of the building, internally and externally. The manufacturing viability of houses, using recyclable materials, through the use of composite materials proposed will be demonstrated. The constructive aspects showing the advantages and disadvantages of the technique used also will be broached. The block used presents structural functions and thermal insulating, is low cost and represents an alternative to the use of EPS and PET bottles which are materials that end up occupying much space in the landfills, giving than an ecologically correct use. The results of thermal analysis shows the thermal comfort provided by the composite by the obtainment of a difference between the internal and external surfaces of the walls more exposed to the sun around 7º C. The average temperature of the air inside the building, around 28.0 º C was below the zone of thermal comfort recommended for countries with hot weather

Estudo da formulação de massas cerâmicas provenientes da região do Seridó-RN para fabricação de telhas

This work has for objective study compared the characteristics and technological properties of ceramic bodies from the region of Seridó-RN. The region under study has identified 23 cities where they were 80 ceramics industries. To define the universe of search, there was a survey of pottery that are part of APL Seridó next to the IEL. The characteristics and operating conditions of ceramics industries of the region were identified through a socio-economic questionnaire applied locally, which addressed issues such as: profiles of companies, production process etc. The analysis of information collected from 24 companies identified in seven cities shows that the vast majority of industries is small, with family structure, obsolete equipment and labo, little qualified. Most of the pottery works with low technical knowledge, poor control of the production process and product technology. The raw collected were submitted to analysis of X ray diffraction, chemical composition, termical analysis, particle size distribution and plasticity. Then were produced five formulations and made by uniaxial pressure at 25 MPa for firing in temperatures varying from 850 to 1050 °C. The firing technological properties evaluated were: mass loss to fire, lineal shrinkage, apparent density, apparent porosity, water absorption and flexural strength (3 points). The results indicated that the raw materials from the region have significant similarities in the composition chemical and mineralogical. Furthermore, it indicates the possibility of the use of cycles of firing faster and efficient than the current, limited to some clay mass burning of certain conditions

Estudo do potencial de utilização do resíduo da extração de esmeraldas na fabricação de cerâmica de revestimento

Companies involved in emerald mining and treatment represent an important area of industrial development in Brazil, with significative contribution to the worldwide production of such mineral. As a result, large volumes of emerald waste are constantly generated and abandoned in the environment, negatively contributing to its preservation. By the other side the interest of the use of mining waste as additive in ceramic products has been growing from researchers in recent years. The ceramic industry is constantly seeking to the marked amplification for the sector and perfecting the quality of the products and to increase the variety of applications. The technology of obtaining of ceramic tiles that uses mining residues assists market niches little explored. In this scenario, the objective of the present study was to characterize the residue generated from emerald mining as well as to assess its potential use as raw material for the production of ceramic tiles. Ceramic mixtures were prepared from raw materials characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis and thermal analysis. Five compositions were prepared using emerald residue contents of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. Samples were uniaxially pressed, fired at 1000, 1100 and 1200ºC and characterized aiming at establishing their mineralogical composition, water absorption, apparent porosity, specific mass, linear retraction and modulus of rupture. The results shows that the emerald residue, basically consisted of 73% of (SiO2 + Al2O3) and 17,77% of (MgO + Na2O+ K2O) (that facilitates sintering), can be added to the ceramic tile materials with no detrimental effect on the properties of the sintered products

Bio-óleo e biogás da degradação termoquímica de lodo de esgoto doméstico em cilindro rotativo

The objective of this study was to produce biofuels (bio-oil and gas) from the thermal treatment of sewage sludge in rotating cylinder, aiming industrial applications. The biomass was characterized by immediate and instrumental analysis (elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy - SEM, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and ICP-OES). A kinetic study on non-stationary regime was done to calculate the activation energy by Thermal Gravimetric Analysis evaluating thermochemical and thermocatalytic process of sludge, the latter being in the presence of USY zeolite. As expected, the activation energy evaluated by the mathematical model "Model-free kinetics" applying techniques isoconversionais was lowest for the catalytic tests (57.9 to 108.9 kJ/mol in the range of biomass conversion of 40 to 80%). The pyrolytic plant at a laboratory scale reactor consists of a rotating cylinder whose length is 100 cm with capable of processing up to 1 kg biomass/h. In the process of pyrolysis thermochemical were studied following parameters: temperature of reaction (500 to 600 ° C), flow rate of carrier gas (50 to 200 mL/min), frequency of rotation of centrifugation for condensation of bio-oil (20 to 30 Hz) and flow of biomass (4 and 22 g/min). Products obtained during the process (pyrolytic liquid, coal and gas) were characterized by classical and instrumental analytical techniques. The maximum yield of liquid pyrolytic was approximately 10.5% obtained in the conditions of temperature of 500 °C, centrifugation speed of 20 Hz, an inert gas flow of 200 mL/min and feeding of biomass 22 g/min. The highest yield obtained for the gas phase was 23.3% for the temperature of 600 °C, flow rate of 200 mL/min inert, frequency of rotation of the column of vapor condensation 30 Hz and flow of biomass of 22 g/min. The non-oxygenated aliphatic hydrocarbons were found in greater proportion in the bio-oil (55%) followed by aliphatic oxygenated (27%). The bio-oil had the following characteristics: pH 6.81, density between 1.05 and 1.09 g/mL, viscosity between 2.5 and 3.1 cSt and highest heating value between 16.91 and 17.85 MJ/ kg. The main components in the gas phase were: H2, CO, CO2 and CH4. Hydrogen was the main constituent of the gas mixture, with a yield of about 46.2% for a temperature of 600 ° C. Among the hydrocarbons formed, methane was found in higher yield (16.6%) for the temperature 520 oC. The solid phase obtained showed a high ash content (70%) due to the abundant presence of metals in coal, in particular iron, which was also present in bio-oil with a rate of 0.068% in the test performed at a temperature of 500 oC.

Síntese e caracterização de tensoativos e estudo de equilíbrio de fase dos sistemas CnH2n+2/H2O/CnH2n+1COONa/But-OH

The growing utilization of surfactants in several different areas of industry has led to an increase on the studies involving solutions containing this type of molecules. Due to its amphiphilic nature, its molecule presents one polar part and one nonpolar end, which easily interacts with other molecules, being able to modify the media properties. When the concentration in which its monomers are saturated, the airliquid system interface is reached, causing a decrease in interfacial tension. The surfactants from pure fatty acids containing C8, C12 and C16 carbonic chains were synthesized in an alcoholic media using sodium hydroxide. They were characterized via thermal analysis (DTA and DTG) and via infrared spectroscopy, with the intention of observing their purity. Physical and chemical properties such as superficial tension, critical micelle concentration (c.m.c), surfactant excess on surface and Gibbs free energy of micellization were determined in order to understand the behaviour of these molecules with an aqueous media. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were obtained aiming to limit the Windsor equilibria conditions so it could be possible to understand how the surfactants carbonic chain size contributes to the microemulsion region. Solutions with known concentrations were prepared to study how the surfactants can influence the dynamic light scattering spectroscopy (DLS) and how the diffusion coefficient is influenced when the media concentration is altered. The results showed the variation on the chain size of the studied surfactant lipophilic part allows the conception of surfactants with similar interfacial properties, but dependent on the size of the lipophilic part of the surfactant. This variation causes the surfactant to have less tendency of microemulsionate oil in water. Another observed result is that the n-alcanes molecule size promoted a decrease on the microemulsion region on the obtained phase diagrams

Avaliação do comportamento termoanalítico e oxidativo do biodiesel de mamona

In this work biodiesel was gotten through the transesterification reaction using the oil of castor as source of triglycerides and using the methylic route for obtaining of esters. For the characterization of biodiesel and its mixtures with mineral diesel oil, physical chemical parameters and several analytical techniques had been used, as well as: gas chromatography (GC), nuclear magnetic resonance of proton (1H NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and thermal analysis. The chromatography confirmed the complete reaction of esters in biodiesel presenting a 97,08% conversion. The 1H - NMR presented singlet in 3,6 ppm corresponding to the hydrogen of the group ester RCOO CH3. The infrared presented a strong band in 1741 cm-1 referring to stretching C=O of ester and an average band in 1175 cm-1 referring C O deformation. With the data of thermal analysis it was possible to observe the thermal and oxidative stability of the samples changing the atmospheres of synthetic air and nitrogen, where stages of the thermal decomposition had been verified and had been attributed to the volatilization and/or decomposition of the triacylglycerides. The thermal degradation of the samples was carried through 150 and 210°C during 1, 12, 24 and 48 hours and was observed change in the thermogravimetric profile, therefore an increase in the number of stages of the thermal decomposition also occurred indicating characteristic intermediate composites of polymerization, being this confirmed through the rheological study that presented brusque increase of viscosity. The kinetic study showed that the activation energy has the following order: biodiesel > mineral diesel oil > mixtures biodiesel/diesel

Síntese, caracterização e avaliação catalítica do silicoaluminofosfato SAPO-11 sulfatado

Due to environmental restrictions around the world, clean catalytic technology are of fundamental importance in the petrochemical industry and refineries. Creating the face of this a great interest in replacing the liquid acids for solid acids, so as molecular sieves have been extensively studied in reactions involving the acid catalysis to produce chemical substances with a high potential of quality. Being the activity of the catalysts involved in the reaction attributed to the acid character of them involved for the Lewis and Brönsted acid sites. Based on this context, this study aimed to prepare catalysts acids using a molecular sieve silicoalumino-phosphate (SAPO-11) synthesized in hidrotermical conditions and sulphated with sulphuric acid at different concentrations, using to it the method of controlled impregnating. The samples resulting from this process were characterized by x-ray difratometry (DRX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal analysis (TG-DTG) and determination of total acidity (by n-butilamin adsorption). The results show that the synthesis method used was efficient in the formation of AEL structure of SAPO-11 and when being incorporated the sulfate groups in this structure the acidity of the material was increased, pointing out that to very high concentrations of acid there is a trend of decrease the main peaks that form the structure. Finally they were tested catalytictly by the reaction model of conversion of m-xylene which showed favorable results of conversion for this catalyst, showing to be more selective of cracking products than isomerization, as expected, in order that for the o-xylene selectivity there was no positive change when to sulfate a sample of SAPO-11, while for light gases of C1-C4 this selectivity was remarkably observed

Estudo da regeneração de aditivos para catalisadores de craqueamento aluminofosfatos (ALPO s)e silicoaluminofosfatos (SAPO s)

Heterogeneous catalysts such as aluminophosphate and silicoaluminophosphate, molecular sieves with AEL of ALPO-11 and SAPO-11, were synthesized by the hydrothermal method with the following molar composition: 2.9 Al +3.2 P + 3.5 DIPA +32.5 H20 (ALPO-11); 2.9 Al +3.2 P + 0.5 Si + 3.5 DIPA +32.5 H20 (SAPO-11) starting from silica (only in the SAPO-11), pseudoboehmite, orthophosphoric acid (85%) and water, in the presence of a di-isopropylamine organic template. The crystallization process occurred when the reactive hydrogel was charged into a vessel and autoclaved at 170ºC for a period of 48 hours under autogeneous pressure. The obtained materials were washed, dried and calcined to remove the molecular sieves of DIPA. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermo gravimetric differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and nitrogen adsorption (BET). The acidic properties were determined using adsorption of n-butylamine followed by programmed thermodessorption. This method revealed that ALPO-11 has weaker acid sites due to structural defects, while SAPO-11 shows an acidity that ranges from weak to moderate. However, a small quantity of strong acid sites could be detected there. The deactivation of the catalysts was conducted by the cracking of the n-hexane in a fixed bed continuous flow microrreator coupled on line to a gas chromatograph. The main products obtained were: ethane, propane, isobutene, n-butane, n-pentane and isopentane. The Vyazovkin (model-free) kinetics method was used to determine the regeneration and removal of the organic template

Estudo do comportamento térmico e da luminescência de filmes de quitosana com os íons Eu3+ e Tb3+

Films of chitosan with trivalent lanthanides ions Eu3+ and Tb3+ were respectively prepared in the ratio of 3:1 m/m (chitosan: lanthanide) and 6:1 m/m (chitosan: lanthanide). There were no formations of films in a ratio of 1:1 m/m (chitosan: lanthanides). The films of chitosan with the Tb3+ ion have the same transparent appearance than the pure chitosan films. The film of chitosan with Eu3+ ion has a muddy appearance. These films present good resistance to tear. The appearance of the compounds prepared in ratio 1:1m/m is a white powder. The films and compounds of chitosan were characterized by Elementary Analysis (CHN), Thermal Analysis (TG/DTG) and Spectroscopy of Luminescence. The CHN analysis was made only for compounds prepared in ratio 1:1m/m, suggesting that these compounds possess the formula QUILn.6H2O, where QUI = Chitosan and Ln = Lanthanide. The results of the curves TG/DTG indicated that there are strong interactions between Eu3+ or Tb3+ and chitosan, causing a lesser lost of mass in the films. The luminescence analysis showed that the films of chitosan with the ions Eu3+ and Tb3+ present emissions in the region of the visible one, with bands of the chitosan and of the Eu3+ ion. The luminescence analysis of the compounds of chitosan with the Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions suggest that the chitosan does not transfer into energy to the ions lanthanides, however the chemical neighborhood around of the ion lanthanides breaks the selection rules and, conseqüently the 4f-4f transitions of the lanthanide ions are observed

Síntese, caracterização e aplicação do MCM-41 e A1-MCM-41 na pirólise do resíduo atmosférico de petróleo

In present work, mesoporous materials of the M41S family were synthesized, which were discovered in the early 90s by researchers from Mobil Oil Corporation, thus allowing new perspectives in the field of catalysis. One of the most important members of this family is the MCM-41, which has a hexagonal array of mesopores with pore diameters ranging from 2 to 10 nm and a high surface area, enabling it to become very promising for the use as a catalyst in the refining of oil in the catalytic cracking process, since the mesopores facilitate the access of large hydrocarbon molecules, thereby increasing the production of light products, that are in high demand in the market. The addition of aluminum in the structure of MCM-41 increases the acidity of the material, making it more beneficial for application in the petrochemical industry. The mesoporous materials MCM-41 and Al-MCM-41 (ratio Si / Al = 50) were synthesized through the hydrothermal method, starting with silica gel, NaOH and distilled water. CTMABr was used as template, for structural guiding. In Al-MCM-41 the same reactants were used, with the adding of pseudoboehmite (as a source of aluminum) in the synthesis gel. The syntheses were carried out over a period of four days with a daily adjustment of pH. The optimum conditions of calcination for the removal of the organic template (CTMABr) were discovered through TG / DTG and also through analysis by XRD, FTIR and Nitrogen Adsorption. It was found that both the method of hydrothermal synthesis and calcination conditions of the studies based on TG were promising for the production of mesoporous materials with a high degree of hexagonal array. The acidic properties of the materials were determined by desorption of n-butylamine via thermogravimetry. One proved that the addition of aluminum in the structure of MCM-41 promoted an increase in the acidity of the catalyst. To check the catalytic activity of these materials, a sample of Atmospheric Residue (RAT) that is derived from atmospheric distillation of oil from the Pole of Guamaré- RN was used. This sample was previously characterized by various techniques such as Thermogravimetry, FTIR and XRF, where through thermal analysis of a comparative study between the thermal degradation of the RAT, the RAT pyrolysis + MCM-41 and RAT + Al- MCM-41. It was found that the Al-MCM-41 was most satisfactory in the promotion of a catalytic effect on the pyrolysis of the RAT, as the cracking of heavy products in the waste occurred at temperatures lower than those observed for the pyrolysis with MCM-41, and thereby also decreasing the energy of activation for the process and increasing the rates of conversion of residue into lighter products

Utilização de sílica gel organofuncionalizada para adsorção de íons metálicos em solução aquosa

In this work the organosilanes aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyltryethoxisilane and n[-3-(trimetoxisilyl)propyl]ethylenetriamine, as well as tetraethylortosilicate (TEOS), were employed to produce, by sol-gel method, organofuncionalized silicon samples. The prepared samples were characterized by elementar analys by thermogravimetry and infrared spectroscopy. Those samples were employed to adsorb Cd2+, Pb2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ from aqueous solutions (10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg L-1). In typical experiments, 50 mg of the organometrix was suspended in 20 mL of metal cation solutions at four different contact times: 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. The total amount of adsorbed cations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. To all investigated matrices, the following adsorption capacity was observed: Ni2+ > Zn2+ > Cd2+ > Pb2+. Such sequence is closely related with the cation radius, as well as the cation hardness

Uso do pó da palha de carnaúba em compósitos de quitosana

In this work a biodegradable composite using the carnauba straw s powder as reinforcement on chitosan matrix polymeric were manufactured. Firstly, were carried out the chemistry characterization of the carnauba straw s powder before and after treatments with NaOH and hexane. Goering and Van Soest method (1970), flotation test, moisture absorption, FTIR, TG/DTG, DSC and SEM have also being carried out. Composites were developed with variations in granulometry and in powder concentrations. They were characterized by TG/DTG, SEM and mechanicals properties. The results of chemical composition showed that the carnauba straw s powder is composed of 41% of cellulose; 28,9% of hemicellulose and 14% of lignin.The flotation test have indicated that the chemical treatment with NaOH decreased the powder s hidrophilicity.The thermal analysis showed increased of thermal stability of material after treatments. The results of FTIR and SEM revealed the removal of soluble materials from the powder (hemicelluloses and lignin), the material became rougher and clean. The composites obtained showed that the mechanicals properties of the composites were decreased in respect at chitosan films, and the composites with the powder at 150 Mesh showed less variation in the modulus values. The speed test of 10 mm/min showed the better reproducibility of the results and is in agreement to the standard ASTM D638. The SEM analysis of fracture showed the low adhesion between the fiber/matrix. The increase of volume of powder in the composite caused a decrease in values of stress and strain for the samples with untreated powder and treated with hexane. The composite with 50% of the powder s treated in NaOH didn t have significant variation in the values of stress and strain as compared with the composites with 10% of the powder, showing that the increase in the volume of fiber didn t affect the stress and strain of the composite. Thereby, it is concluded that the manufacture of polymeric composites of chitosan using carnauba straw s powder can be done, without need for pre-treatment of reinforcement, become the couple of carnauba straw s powder-chitosan a good alternative for biodegradable composites

Síntese e caracterização de carreadores de oxigênio para combustão com recirculação química obtidos via reação de combustão assistida por microondas

Perovskites oxides win importance by its properties and commercials applications, they have a high thermal stability, have conductive properties, electrical, catalytic, electro catalytic, optical and magnetic, and are thermally stable. Because of these properties, are being widely studied as carriers of oxygen in the process of power generation with CO2 capture. In this work, the base carrier system La1-xMexNiO3 (Me = Ca and Sr) were synthesized by the method via the combustion reaction assisted by microwave. were synthesized from the combustion reaction method by microwave process. This method control the synthesi`s conditions to obtain materials with specific characteristics. The carriers calcined at 800 ° C/2h were analyzed by thermal analysis (TG-DTA), to verify its thermal stability, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to verify the phase formation, with subsequent refinement by the Rietveld method, to quantify the percentage of phases formed, the surface area by BET method was determined, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was obtained to evaluate the material morphology and temperature programmed reduction (TPR) was done to observe the metallic phase of the nickel. After all proposed characterization and analysis of their results can be inferred to these oxides, key features so that they can be applied as carriers for combustion reactions in chemical cycles. The final products showed perovskite-type structures K2NiF4 (main) and ABO3.

Estudo de titanatos nanoestruturados obtidos por tratamento hidrotérmico de óxido de titânio em meio alcalino

TiTanate NanoTubes (TTNT) were synthesized by hydrothermal alkali treatment of TiO2 anatase followed by repeated washings with distinct degrees of proton exchange. TTNT samples with different sodium contents were characterized, as synthesized and after heattreatment (200-800ºC), by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, thermal analysis, nitrogen adsorption and spectroscopic techniques like FTIR and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance. It was demonstrated that TTNTs consist of trititanate structure with general formula NaxH2−xTi3O7·nH2O, retaining interlayer water in its multiwalled structure. The removal of sodium reduces the amount of water and contracts the interlayer space leading, combined with other factors, to increased specific surface area and mesopore volume. TTNTs are mesoporous materials with two main contributions: pores smaller than 10 nm due to the inner volume of nanotubes and larger pores within 5-60 nm attributed to the interparticles space. Chemical composition and crystal structure of TTNTs do not depend on the average crystal size of the precursor TiO2-anatase, but this parameter affects significantly the morphology and textural properties of the nanostructured product. Such dependence has been rationalized using a dissolution-recrystallization mechanism, which takes into account the dissolution rate of the starting anatase and its influence on the relative rates of growth and curving of intermediate nanosheets. The thermal stability of TTNT is defined by the sodium content and in a lower extent by the crystallinity of the starting anatase. It has been demonstrated that after losing interlayer water within the range 100-200ºC, TTNT transforms, at least partially, into an intermediate hexatitanate NaxH2−xTi6O13 still retaining the nanotubular morphology. Further thermal transformation of the nanostructured tri- and hexatitanates occurs at higher or lower temperature and follows different routes depending on the sodium content in the structure. At high sodium load (water washed samples) they sinter and grow towards bigger crystals of Na2Ti3O7 and Na2Ti6O13 in the form of rods and ribbons. In contrast, protonated TTNTs evolve to nanotubes of TiO2(B), which easily convert to anatase nanorods above 400ºC. Besides hydroxyls and Lewis acidity typical of titanium oxides, TTNTs show a small contribution of protonic acidity capable of coordinating with pyridine at 150ºC, which is lost after calcination and conversion into anatase. The isoeletric point of TTNTs was measured within the range 2.5-4.0, indicating behavior of a weak acid. Despite displaying semiconductor characteristics exhibiting typical absorption in the UV-Vis spectrum with estimated bandgap energy slightly higher than that of its TiO2 precursor, TTNTs showed very low performance in the photocatalytic degradation of cationic and anionic dyes. It was concluded that the basic reason resides in its layered titanate structure, which in comparison with the TiO2 form would be more prone to the so undesired electron-hole pair recombination, thus inhibiting the photooxidation reactions. After calcination of the protonated TTNT into anatase nanorods, the photocatalytic activity improved but not to the same level as that exhibited by its precursor anatase