In this study, two types of nanostructured carbon–TiO₂ within epoxy matrix, i.e. carbon nanotubes-TiO₂-Epoxy (CNT-TiO₂-Epoxy) and carbon nanofiber-TiO₂-Epoxy (CNF-TiO₂-Epoxy) have been prepared, characterized and tested as sorbent and photocatalysts for humic acids (HAs) removal from water envisaging advanced drinking water treatment. The HA adsorption capacities of CNT-TiO₂-Epoxy of 8.68 mg g⁻¹ and CNF-TiO₂-Epoxy of 7.14 mg g⁻¹ were determined using Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Also, the photocatalytic activities of both composites were assessed in terms of HA degradation efficiency and rate constant and an enhancement effect was found for CNT-TiO₂-Epoxy composite for HA removal. CNF-TiO₂-Epoxy photocatalytic performance was worse vs. simple TiO₂ traditional catalyst in terms of degradation efficiency, but five times faster from the kinetics point of view. The lifetime and the regeneration pathway by the photocatalysis were assessed for CNT-TiO₂-Epoxy composite system in comparison with the sorption applications. A HA removal efficiency of 43.8% was found by photocatalysis vs. 30.2% reached by the sorption after successive five running. A regeneration degree of about 25% was achieved under the similar conditions of photocatalysis without HA presence.

The aim of this study was to prepare three types of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT)-based composite electrodes and to modify their surface by copper electrodeposition for nonenzymatic oxidation and determination of glucose from aqueous solution. Copper-decorated multiwall carbon nanotubes composite electrode (Cu/CNT-epoxy) exhibited the highest sensitivity to glucose determination.

The role of various carbon forms, i.e., activated carbon and carbon nanotubes/nanofibers as support for TiO2 in drinking water treatment, is discussed. Also, TiO2 supported onto zeolite that acts bifunctionally as a sorbent/photocatalyst for drinking water treatment is presented. The main contaminants of natural organic matter (NOM), arsenic species, and nitrogen compounds from drinking water sources by the type of groundwater and surface water can be removed/degraded by sorption/photocatalysis using TiO2 supported onto carbon and/or zeolite. TiO2 supported on powdered activated carbon (PAC-TiO2), granular activated carbon (GAC-TiO2), and zeolite (Z-TiO2), namely, supported TiO2, was synthesized through the sol-gel method, and TiO2 and multiwall carbon nanotubes/carbon nanofibers dispersed within epoxy matrix (CNT-TiO2-Epoxy, CNF-TiO2-Epoxy), namely, TiO2 composite, were obtained through the two-roll mill method. Kinetic study results through specific mathematic models allowed to elucidate some mechanistic aspects for sorption and photocatalysis for the application in drinking water. The intercalation of the carbon- and zeolite-supported TiO2 layers into a filtering system allows to develop a self-cleaning filtering system in drinking water.