Abstract
In this study, photocatalytic removal of methylene blue (MB) from natural seawater was examined using carbon-modified titanium oxide (CM-n-TiO 2 ) nanoparticles under illumination of real sunlight. CM-n-TiO 2 nanoparticles exhibited significantly higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency compared to unmodified n-TiO 2 . Photocatalytic removal studies were carried out at different initial dye concentrations (5-30 µM), catalyst dose (0.5-1.5 gL -1 ), and pH (3-9). The highest removal rate of MB was obtained at the optimal conditions of pH 8 and 1.0 gL -1 of CM-n-TiO 2 . The solar photocatalytic removal of MB from seawater using CM-n-TiO 2 obeyed a pseudo-first order kinetics according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model.
Highlights
The wastewater from the textile industry is rated as one of the most polluting amongst all industrial sectors, considering the volumes discharged and effluent composition (Bizani, Futianos, Poulios, & Tsiridis, 2005)
The solar photocatalytic removal of methylene blue (MB) from seawater using CM-n-TiO2 obeyed a pseudo-first order kinetics according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model
These results reflect the significantly enhanced visible light harvesting capability of CM-n-TiO2 nanoparticles, which can be attributed to the carbon modification
Summary
The wastewater from the textile industry is rated as one of the most polluting amongst all industrial sectors, considering the volumes discharged and effluent composition (Bizani, Futianos, Poulios, & Tsiridis, 2005). About 15% of the total amount of dye is lost during the dyeing production process and released in wastewater effluents (Slokar & Le Marechal, 1998). Typical classical techniques to remove these compounds, such as adsorption (Rauf, Qadri, Ashraf, & Al-Mansoori, 2009), coagulation (Riera-Torres, Gutiérrez-Bouzán, & Crespi, 2010), ion flotation (Shakir, Elkafrawy, Ghoneimy, Beheir, & Refaat, 2010) and sedimentation (Zodi, Potier, Lapicque, & Leclerc, 2010) have inherent drawbacks due to the formation of secondary toxic products that require further treatment. Photocatalysis using nanostructured semiconductors has attracted considerable attention in recent years as a potential and economical method for mineralization of organic pollutants in contaminated water to carbon dioxide and water (Stylidi, Kondarides, & Verykios, 2004)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
