Abstract
This research aims to study the possible improvement of methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous solution by hybrid adsorbent-catalysts (AdsCats) prepared through the incorporation of activated carbon derived from Luffa cylindrica fibers (LAC) to TiO2 photocatalysts. LAC with a specific surface area of 1170 m2/g was prepared by chemical activation with phosphoric acid at 500 °C. TiO2/LAC composites with 70 and 90 wt.% Degussa P25 titania content were prepared. The materials were characterized by N2 physical adsorption, XRD, FTIR, and XPS. The AdsCats displayed a very good dispersion of TiO2 over LAC, a surface area of close to 200 or 400 m2/g, depending on the composition, and high crystallinity, showing the presence of anatase and rutile phases. MB removal was studied in two different scenarios: under UV-light after reaching adsorption equilibrium, and under UV-light once the liquid effluent and the AdsCats were in contact. The MB removal by LAC has proved to be very efficient, highlighting the predominant role of adsorption over photodegradation. The prepared AdsCats have also been compared with their components. The results showed that TiLAC hybrids have superior photocatalytic performance than P25, showing TiLAC-7/3 90% MB removal with respect to the initial concentration just after 30 min of UV light irradiation for both studied scenarios.
Highlights
IntroductionIndustrial development has engendered negative effects on the environment throughout the propagation of wastewater containing organic pollutants, especially from textile industries [1,2]
It points out that all samples present a mesoporous structure, with an average pore width of 2–5 nm. This is in good agreement with chemical activation by phosphoric acid, which develops microporous to mesoporous structures [31]
Composite materials have been prepared by a simple mechanical mixing of TiO2 and an activated carbon derived from Luffa cylindrica fibers
Summary
Industrial development has engendered negative effects on the environment throughout the propagation of wastewater containing organic pollutants, especially from textile industries [1,2]. These released wastewaters are charged with different recalcitrant dyes, such as malachite green, rhodamine-B, methylene blue, congo red, etc. Due to their high toxicity, these compounds represent a serious danger both for human health (cancer diseases) and the environment, especially for aquatic life [3,4]. The concentration of these recalcitrant dyes in wastewaters typically ranges from 10 to 200 mg·L−1
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