Photocatalytic decolorization of Procion 032 Carmine Red using titania nanotubes

Abstract

In this study, we report for the first time on the photocatalytic decolorization of Procion 032 Carmine Red (PC032) using titania nanotubes (TNTs). Photocatalysts of TNTs were synthesized by hydrothermal method under strong alkali condition using powder TiO2 as a precursor and calcined at different temperatures (100 - 700oC). The materials were then characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The decolorization tests of PC032 and other dyes were conducted under ultraviolet at 365 nm (UVA) irradiation using a batch photocatalytic reactor in which TNTs was suspended in the dye solution by continuous magnetic mixing. Experimental results showed that calcination temperature affected on both the material properties and the photocatalytic activity. The surface area of the materials decreased while anatase crystallinity increased with the increase of calcination temperature, as from BET and XRD results. For photocatalytic activity, TNT calcined at 600oC (T-600) showed the highest PC032 removal efficiency of almost 100% after 60 min of irradiation. The durability test showed that the activity of T-600 was still stable after at least 10 times of repetition of treatment. Moreover, T-600 was also effective for decolorization of other dyes and could be a promising photocatalyst for advanced wastewater treatment in textile industry.