Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of phenol by immobilized tio2 /dye-loaded chitosan

• Published in: Desalination and Water Treatment
• Main Author: Sabar S.; Nawi M.A.; Jawad A.H.; Schneider R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Desalination Publications 2019
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85073455118&doi=10.5004%2fdwt.2019.24629&partnerID=40&md5=5b9f28434c309ecd8c8a5d2e544aac8c

In this study, an immobilized TiO2 /dye-loaded chitosan was designed in a layer-by-layer arrangement for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation of phenol under a 45-W compact household fluorescent light irradiation. The immobilized photocatalyst was supported on glass plates and consists of a porous top layer of TiO2 and sub-layer of chitosan (CS) with chemisorbed Reactive Red 4 (RR4) dye (TiO2 /RR4-CS/glass). Results from the optical studies demonstrated that the absorption threshold of the immobilized photocatalyst was shifted to the visible light region with lower recombination of electron–hole pairs. The TiO2 /RR4-CS/glass exhibits improved photocatalytic degradation and mineralization of phenol as compared with the TiO2 /glass and TiO2 /CS/glass photocatalysts, with a degradation rate of 0.030 min–1 and total mineralization of 76.7%. The immobilized photocatalyst also exhibited excellent photocatalytic stability and could be reused for up to five cycles of phenol treatment. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the TiO2 /RR4-CS/glass can be ascribed to the synergistic photocatalytic and sensitization effects that run concurrently under light irradiation. © 2019 Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.