Photocatalytic degradation of reactive yellow 17 dye in aqueous solution in the presence of TiO2 with cement binder

B Neppolian,H C Choi,Banunathi Arabindoo,M V Shankar,V Murugesan,S R Kanel

doi:10.1155/s1110662x03000126

Abstract

This study examined the photocatalytic degradation of common textile dye, reactive yellow 17 by photocatalysis over TiO2 (Degussa P25) photocatalyst coated on the glass plates (reactor) using cement as a binder. Sunlight was used as an energy source. The degradation efficiency was found to be the high at around neutral pH values. The influence of additives such as H2O2, K2S2O8, Na2CO3 or NaCl, on the degradation efficiency of the dye in the presence of cement binder was systematically studied. Both Na2CO3 and NaCl were hindering the rate of photocatalytic degradation. Whereas, increase the initial concentrations of both H2O2 and K2S2O8, increased the rate of degradation of the dye. UV‐vis spectrophotometer and chemical oxidation demand were used to study decolourisation and degradation of dye, respectively. From this study, degradation of textile dye reactive yellow 17 with TiO2 photocatalyst coated on the glass plate using cement as a binder employing solar energy may emerge as a cost‐effective method for textile dye wastewater of low concentration.

Highlights

The discharge of wastewater that contains high concentration of reactive dyes is a well-known problem associated with dye stuff activities
Reactive Yellow 17 dye was degraded in the presence of TiO2 by irradiation with solar light
A blank experiment in the absence of irradiation illustrated the rapid attainment of adsorption equilibrium of the dye on to TiO2. Another experiment in the absence of TiO2 with irradiation showed no significant degradation. This clearly indicates that this reaction follows photocatalytic degradation

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The discharge of wastewater that contains high concentration of reactive dyes is a well-known problem associated with dye stuff activities. Some of these dyes have documented health hazards [1]. There are different physico-chemical and biological methods for the treatment of reactive dyes in wastewater. These processes have high operating cost and are of limited applicability. Photocatalytic detoxification (AOPs) has been focussed as an alternative method to clean up polluted water This technique adopts the possibility of combining the heterogeneous catalysis with solar light to achieve mineralisation of toxic pollutants present in textile wastewater [5].

EXPERIMENTAL

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION