Abstract
In this paper, TiO2/α-Fe2O3 composite with high photocatalytic activity was prepared by a mechanical milling using iron sand from Lampanah in Aceh Besar regency as hematite (α-Fe2O3) source. Hematite was extracted from iron sand by using hydrochloric acid followed by co-precipitating using ammonium hydroxide as co-precipitation agent. Hematite and TiO2 powder were mixed and milled on a planetary ball mill without incorporating any solvent. The materials were characterized by using X-ray difraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The XRD results showed that the iron (III) oxide synthesized was hematite (α-Fe2O3) phase with the average crystallite size 27.967 nm. SEM analysis showed that iron sand was on irregular form, while the hematite (α-Fe2O3) and TiO2/α-Fe2O3 composite was on regular sphere. The TiO2/α-Fe2O3 composite was evaluated on photodegradation of indigo carmine (IC) dye using UV light irradiation. The highest degradation efficiency of IC (100%) was obtained by initial pH of dye solution equal to 1, photocatalyst dosage of 0.2 g, initial dye consentration of 5 mg/L for 120 min irradiation time. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2/α-Fe2O3 composites using UV light was almost the same as that of by solar light. Keywords: Iron sand, α-Fe2O3/TiO2 composite, mechanical milling, photocatalyst, indigo carmine
Highlights
Iron sand is a type of sand with a significant concentration of iron that is usually dark gray or blackish in colour
Hematite is stable under ambient conditions, resistance to corrosion and the semiconductor properties of hematite with a band gap of 2.2 eV are highly beneficial in photocatalysis.The small band gap of hematite make it efficient absorption in the solar spectrum
Synthesis and characterization of TiO2/ -Fe2O3 composite using hematite from iron ... (Surya Lubis, IlhamMaulanaand Masyithah) containing dyemay lead to environmental problem for human health and may have adverse effects on aquatic life because of toxicity and carcinogenic effect of this dye.In this work, hematite ( -Fe2O3) has been extracted from iron sand by co-precipitation method and modified with TiO2 by mechanical milling
Summary
Iron sand is a type of sand with a significant concentration of iron that is usually dark gray or blackish in colour. Iron sand from Aceh Besar regency is composed mainly of magnetite (Fe3O4) and small amount of TiO2 and SiO2 [2]. Coupling with other semiconductor with higher band gap energy is one of efforts to solve the problem because it can help to separate its photo-generated charges and increase the photocatalytic activity. TiO2 with high band energy gap (3.0 – 3.2 eV)is suitable for coupling with hematite. Hematite doped TiO2 nanocomposite has been fabricated and the obtained composites exhibited high photocatalytic activity on photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange [7]. (Surya Lubis, IlhamMaulanaand Masyithah) containing dyemay lead to environmental problem for human health and may have adverse effects on aquatic life because of toxicity and carcinogenic effect of this dye.In this work, hematite ( -Fe2O3) has been extracted from iron sand by co-precipitation method and modified with TiO2 by mechanical milling.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
