Synthesis of TiO2@ Activated Bagasse Fly Ash Nanocomposite as a Photocatalyst for Removal of Dyes and Heavy Metals from Wastewater
M. Nageeb Rashed *
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Aswan University, 81528 Aswan, Egypt
M. A. Eltherr
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Aswan University, 81528 Aswan, Egypt
A. N. A. Abdou
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), Aswan Branch, Aswan, Egypt
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
TiO2@activated bagasse fly ash nanocomposite (TiO2/ABFA) was prepared and used as a photocatalyst for cadmium and methyl orange dye removal from bi-component pollutant solutions. Various weight ratios of TiO2 to ABFA (1:3, 1:2, and 1:1) were synthesized. Three systems were applied, the first system (A) was carried out under UV irradiation for 4 h and 1h in the dark, the second system (B) was carried out under UV irradiation with 100 µL H2O2 for 4 h and 1 h in the dark, and third system (C) was carried out in the dark for 5 h (only adsorption process). The characterization of ABFA and TiO2/ABFA were studied by SEM, XRF, and XRD patterns. The results showed that the highest MO and Cd2+ removal efficiency confirmed by TiO2/ABFA (1:2) nanocomposite photocatalyst. The application of TiO2/ABFA (1:2) nanocomposite compared to ABFA adsorbent led to enhancement of MO removal efficiency from 74.14 to 98.5% and from 55.28 to 82% at low and high MO concentration, respectively. Degradation of MO by system (B) was more effective than that by systems (A) and (C), while Cd2+ removal efficiency was higher by adsorption system (C). The optimum operation factors for mixed cadmium and methyl orange removal by TiO2/ABFA (1:2) were solution pH 7, 2 g/l catalyst dose, 300 min contact time, under UV irradiation and H2O2. Removal rate of MO and Cd2+ followed pseudo-second order model.
Keywords: Photocatalysis, nanocomposite, dyes, heavy metal, wastewater treatment, fly ash