Environmental Technology

Project Description

An efficient sonophotocatalytic degradation of reactive blue 19 (RB 19) dye was successfully carried out using sulphur-doped TiO2 (S-TiO2) nanoparticles. The effect of various treatment processes that is sonolysis, photolysis, catalysis, sonocatalysis, photocatalysis, and sonophotocatalysis were investigated for RB 19 removal. S-TiO2 were synthesized in 1, 3 and 5 wt % of sulphur by sol-gel process and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The results confirm anatase phase of TiO2, porous agglomerate structure, and a red shift in the absorbance spectra of S-TiO2. The dye degradation was studied by using UV-Vis spectrophotometer at λmax = 594 nm. The reaction parameters such as pH, catalyst dosage, initial dye concentration, ultrasonic power and effect of sulphur doping in different weight percent were studied to find out the optimum degradation conditions. Optimum conditions were found as:S-TiO2 = 5 wt %, catalyst (S-TiO2 5 wt %) = 50 mg, RB 19 solution concentration = 20 mg L-1, pH =3, ultrasound power = 100 and operating temperature = 25 oC.The response of 5 wt % S-TiO2 was found better than 1 and 3 wt % S-TiO2 and other forms TiO2. The sonophotocatalysis process was superior to other methods. During this process the ultrasound cavitation and photocatalysis water splitting takes place which leads to the generation of OH. As reveled by the GC/MS results the reactive Blue 19 (20 mg L-1) was degraded to 90 % within 120 min. The S-TiO2 sonophotocatalysis system was studied for the first time for dye degradation and was found practicable, efficient and cost effective for the degradation of complex and resistant dyes such as RB19.

Project Funding

Sr. No.Funding BodyFunds
1 HEC 0.5 Million Rupee

Members

  • Dr. Maria  Siddique
  • Dr. Romana  Khan