Preparation of Composite Banana Peel-TiO2 for Methyl Orange Dyes Removal

Abstract

Composite banana peel activated carbon-TiO2 has successfully prepared using the sol-gel method. In this research, banana peel was activated using KOH activator. This study aimed to compose biomass wastes (banana peels) with TiO2 catalyst for Methyl Orange (MO) dye removal. The banana peel-activated carbon (BPAC) composition varied from 20, 50 and 70 wt. %. The prepared samples were calcined at 400 °C for 4 h. The structure and properties of the prepared samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transmission Infra-Red (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometer (UV-Vis). The results obtained from XRD showed the presence of anatase, rutile and potassium formate. The morphological analysis TiO2 showed agglomeration whereas pores were observed in BPAC. FTIR results indicated a C-O stretching and CH functional group formation through a modification that it does not exhibit in pure TiO2. The sample with 50 wt% BPAC-TiO2 has the highest MO removal (72.5%) within 3 h of irradiation time. From the current finding, banana peel-activated carbon-TiO2 can be commercialized for wastewater remediation especially in treating dye pollution.