Abstract
In this work, the PIL (poly ionic liquid)@TiO2 composite was designed with two polymerized ionic liquid concentrations (low and high) and evaluated for pollutant degradation activity for benzene and toluene. The results showed that PIL (low)@TiO2 composite was more active than PIL (high)@TiO2 composites. The photodegradation rate of benzene and toluene pollutants by PIL (low)@TiO2 and PIL (high)@TiO2 composites was obtained as 86% and 74%, and 59% and 46%, respectively, under optimized conditions. The bandgap of TiO2 was markedly lowered (3.2 eV to 2.2 eV) due to the formation of PIL (low)@TiO2 composite. Besides, graphene oxide (GO) was used to grow the nano-photocatalysts’ specific surface area. The as-synthesized PIL (low)@TiO2@GO composite showed higher efficiency for benzene and toluene degradation which corresponds to 91% and 83%, respectively. The resultant novel hybrid photocatalyst (PIL@TiO2/m-GO) was prepared and appropriately characterized for their microstructural, morphology, and catalytic properties. Among the studied photocatalysts, the PIL (low)@TiO2@m-GO composite exhibits the highest activity in the degradation of benzene (97%) and toluene (97%). The ultimate bandgap of the composite reached 2.1 eV. Our results showed that the as-prepared composites hold an essential role for future considerations over organic pollutants.
Highlights
With the advent of the industry and the increased use of fossil fuels and processed materials from the fossil fuel source, we are faced with the phenomenon of air pollution [1].Air pollution has seriously affected the environment and the health of humans and other organisms [2]
The other peak presents at 1629 cm−1 confirm the presence of C=O that mentions the excellent process of graphene oxide’s operationalization that is confirmed in the XRD chart
The highest adsorption in darkness was recorded by PIL(low)/TiO2 /modified graphene oxide (m-GO) nanocomposite, which shows a significant role of graphene oxide presence
Summary
With the advent of the industry and the increased use of fossil fuels and processed materials from the fossil fuel source, we are faced with the phenomenon of air pollution [1]. PIL(low)@TiO2 @m-GO nanocomposite obtained a high degradation efficiency of 97% for benzene and toluene within 24 min. The bandgap energy of PIL(low)@TiO2 @m-GO was estimated as 2.1 eV, in which the modified graphene oxide (m-GO) efficiently contributed to electron–hole recombination prevention. The PIL@TiO2 composite was designed with two polymerized ionic liquid concentrations, both of which were identified by DRS and XRD tests and evaluated for pollutant degradation activity. TEM test was performed on PIL (low)@TiO2 composite, where the coating of titanium dioxide nanoparticles by polymer chain is well visible. The as-synthesized PIL (low)@TiO2 @GO composite had higher activity in benzene and toluene degradation of 91% and 83%, respectively. The amount of bandgap was reduced to 2.1 eV by the composite of PIL(low)@TiO2 @mGO Another point of interest in this study is the relative concentration of contaminants associated with the radiation distribution period. The relative concentration of pollutants to the distribution of irradiation time shows that the composite of PIL(low)@TiO2 @m-GO destroyed 97% of the pollutants within 24 min
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