Fe-doped titanium dioxide synthesized: Photocatalytic activity and mineralization study for azo dye

Abstract

Abstract Photocatalytic bleaching and mineralization of the dye Cibacron Yellow LS-R using Fe-doped TiO 2 synthesized and Aeroxide TiO 2 P25 have been investigated. The Fe-doped TiO 2 samples were synthesized by sol–gel method combined with solvothermal treatment at short crystallization time (2 h) and low temperature (200 °C), using tetraisopropyl orthotitanate as Ti-precursor, iron (III) nitrate as Fe-precursor and 2-propanol as solvent. Different Fe:Ti molar ratios (0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2%) were evaluated. 0.5% Fe-doped TiO 2 had the best photocatalytic performance among Fe doped samples, however it showed a low photocatalytic activity in the dye Cibacron Yellow LS-R photodegradation compared with Aeroxide TiO 2 P25. This result perhaps is due to the poor ability of the Fe-doped TiO 2 to produce hydroxyl radicals under UV irradiation, which was measured using fluorescence method, and its size particle which could be very large for the iron load in the sample, compared with those reported in the literature as appropriate.