Degradation and mineralization of violet-3B dye using C-N-codoped TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalyst

Abstract

The present study investigated the photodegradation of synthetic organic dye; violet-3B, without and with the addition of C-N-codoped TiO<sub>2</sub> catalyst using a visible halogen-lamp as a light source. The catalyst was synthesized by using a peroxo sol-gel method with free-organic solvent. The effects of initial dye concentration, catalyst dosage, and pH solution on the photodegradation of violet-3B were examined. The efficiency of the photodegradation process for violet-3B dye was higher at neutral to less acidic pH. The kinetics reaction rate of photodegradation of violet-3B dye with the addition of C-N-codoped TiO<sub>2</sub> followed pseudo-first order kinetics represented by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, and increasing the initial concentration of dyes decreased rate constants of photodegradation. Photodegradation of 5 mg L<sup>-1</sup> violet-3B dye achieved 96% color removal within 240 min of irradiation in the presence of C-N-codoped TiO<sub>2</sub> catalyst, and approximately 44% TOC was removed as a result of the mineralization.