Abstract
A novel visible light active TiO2/FeS2 semiconductor photocatalyst was synthesized by a simple wet chemical process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to analyze the anatase TiO2 and pyrite structures in FeS2/TiO2 nanocrystals. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the spherical morphology of composite nanocrystals. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) identified the Fe2+, S1−, Ti4+, and O2− oxidation states of relevant species. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was performed for compositional analysis. The measured band gap of the TiO2/FeS2 nanocomposite system was 2.67 eV, which is smaller than un-doped TiO2 (3.10 eV) and larger than FeS2 (1.94 eV). The photocatalytic activity of TiO2/FeS2 was significantly higher than pure FeS2 for degrading methylene blue (MB) under solar light irradiation due to the increase in visible light absorption, reduction in band gap energy, and better election–hole pair separation. The photocatalytic degradation of MB was investigated under the influence of solution pH, dye concentrations, and varied catalyst dosage. The optimum degradation (100%) of MB was observed in 180 min and the photocatalysis of MB reduced as the dye concentrations in the solution increased from 15 to 75 mg L−1. These results prove that the TiO2/FeS2 nanocomposite has the stability, recycling, and adaptability for its practical application as a visible light photocatalyst for wastewater treatment. TiO2/FeS2 showed increased degradation of the organic pollutant; which is confirmed by the increased rate of chemical reaction following pseudo first-order reaction kinetics with the highest rate constant value of 0.0408 m−1 having highest R2 value of 0.9981.
Highlights
Photocatalytic treatments have been extensively recommended for environmental remediation under benign conditions.[1]
Photocatalytic degradation has been frequently used in wastewater treatment due to its high photoactivity, non-toxicity, low cost, photochemical stability, and unusual capability to aCatalysis for Environment and Energy Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
FeSO4$7H2O and Na2S2O3 were supplied by BDH chemical Ltd and Sigma-Aldrich (USA); TiCl4 was purchased from SigmaAldrich (USA); Methylene Blue was supplied by BDH chemical Ltd (USA) and standard grade was utilized as the test pollutant
Summary
Photocatalytic treatments have been extensively recommended for environmental remediation under benign conditions.[1]. Photocatalytic degradation has been frequently used in wastewater treatment due to its high photoactivity, non-toxicity, low cost, photochemical stability, and unusual capability to eCentral Metallurgical R&D Institute, Helwan 11421, Cairo, Egypt fNational Centre for Physics, Nano-Science and Technology Department, Quaid-iAzam University Islamabad, Pakistan gDepartment of Chemistry, SBA School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Lahore 54792, Pakistan hCenter for Micro and Nano Devices (CMND), COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan iUNEP-TONGJI Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai, China 200092
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