Styrene–tin (IV) phosphate nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation of organic dye in presence of visible light

Abstract

Styrene–tin (IV) phosphate nanocomposite (ST/TPNC) ion exchanger was used as efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue dye from aqueous system in the presence of solar light. ST/TPNC exhibited a high efficiency in heterogeneous photocatalytic process for the removal of MB from the water system. The degradation efficiency after 2h illumination was 80%. The degradation of MB follows the pseudo-first-order kinetics with rate constant 0.00702min−1. The nanocomposite ion exchanger was explored for its ion exchange capacity, pH titration, elution behavior, elution concentration and distribution coefficient (Kd). ST/TPNC exhibited a higher ion exchange capacity (1.83meg/g) compared to its inorganic counterpart (0.55meg/g). ST/TPNC was characterized using some techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).