In this study, iron-doped TiO 2 (B) nanoribbons (Fe-TiO 2 (B) NR) have been synthesized using the anatase TiO 2 as a precursor. The formation of TiO 2 (B) with the monoclinic crystal system was confirmed by HRTEM, SAED pattern, and XRD analyses. The ESR and XPS analyses further revealed the presence of Ti 3+ and oxygen vacancies in Fe-TiO 2 (B) NR. The Fe-TiO 2 (B) NR, as an adsorbent, exhibited a fantastic performance in adsorbing As(III) from potable water at near-neutral pH. More than 94% of removal efficacy was observed for all the studied As(III) concentrations (50, 100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 ppb) at 1 g L −1 dose at 30, 40, and 50 °C temperatures in dark condition. Irradiation with visible light, however, diminished the removal efficacy to ~88%. The Sips, the Toth, and the D-A isotherm model-based approximate site energy distributions had taken the unimodal quasi-normal distribution pattern. Nevertheless, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the adsorption of H 3 AsO 3 is highly favourable on the (001) crystal plane of monoclinic TiO 2 (B). Moreover, the DFT calculations meticulously suggested the exothermic nature of the adsorption process and the chances of oxidation of H 3 AsO 3 on the (001) crystal plane of monoclinic TiO 2 (B), which was further vindicated by XPS analysis. • TiO 2 (B) nanoribbons synthesized by doping Fe in anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles • SAED pattern, XRD analyses confirm the transformation of anatase TiO 2 to TiO 2 (B). • XPS, X-band ESR analyses confirm the presence of Ti 3+ and O vacancy in Fe-doped TiO 2 (B). • Fe-doped TiO 2 (B) can adsorb As(III) from potable water efficiently. • Adsorption of As(III) on it is chemisorption and exothermic in nature.
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