Photocatalytic degradation of a textile dye Reactive Red 31 using phyto-synthesized titanium nanoparticles under solar irradiation

Abstract

In the present work, we have reported a sustainable and effective method for the degradation of a textile dye Reactive Red 31 (RR31) using synthesized titanium nanoparticles. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized using a noxious weed, Parthenium hysterophorus, as reducing and capping agent for the first time. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized and confirmed as TiO2 nanoparticles by using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. A glass reactor was designed and developed for the degradation of dye under solar radiations. Photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Red 31 was carried out at different concentrations using synthesized nanoparticles. UV–vis spectroscopy, total organic carbon, and total inorganic carbon analysis were carried out for the determination of dye degradation. The results reveal that biogenic TiO2 nanomaterial acts as a good photocatalyst for the degradation of textile dye Reactive Red 31.