Incorporation of Anatase TiO2 to Highly Porous Silica (BMMs) for Photo‐Degradation of Alizarin Red Dye in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

AbstractPrelaminar synthesis of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles supported on bimodal mesoporous silica (BMMs) was carried out by impregnation method. Physiochemical characteristic and structural morphology of synthesized catalyst (TiO2/BMMs) were studied in detail by X‐ray diffraction patterns, N2 sorption isotherms, Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet‐visible spectra, surface‐zeta charges, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results demonstrated that the anatase TiO2 nanoparticles in size of around 5.06 nm were uniformly dispersed on the mesoporous surface of BMMs. The resultant TiO2/BMMs as photo‐catalyst had extensive effect on degradation performances (93.6 %) of alizarin red dye in aqueous solution, in which the effects of various parameters, such as pH, dose, and pollutant concentration on the adsorption capacity and further photo‐degradation were explored. Meanwhile, the reused photocatalyst after five successive cycles presented a higher activity with degradation up to 61.1 %, suggesting a good stability of newly synthesized catalyst.