The present study aims to synthesize nanoTiO₂-AC and evaluate its property and photocatalytic activity using 254nm UV lamp in suspended system and as immobilized catalyst for the color removal of Turquoise blue dye solution. NanoTiO₂-AC is synthesized via the sol-gel method and calcined at 400°C. Various ratio (1:10, 2:10 and 3:10) of weight AC / volume of TiO₂ sol were investigated. NanoTiO₂-AC is immobilized in glass plates using Polyethylene glycol (PEG) as binder. Powder and immobilized catalysts were characterized using BET, SEM-EDX, TGA, FTIR and XRD techniques. The effect of initial dye concentration, initial solution pH, catalyst loading and AC loading were investigated. SEM images confirmed the uniform distribution of nanoTiO₂ attached on the surface of AC. Immobilized 1:10 AC/nanoTiO₂ has lower surface area compared to powder 1:10 AC/nanoTiO₂. Increasing the AC loading in AC/nanoTiO₂ increases the dye adsorption in the composite catalyst to as much as 9%. The initial rate of color removal is faster in suspended catalyst compared to immobilized catalyst. In general, suspended catalyst is more efficient than immobilized catalyst. Further, PEG as a binder can be used to immobilize AC/TiO₂ in glass with considerable stability.

Photocatalysis, Nanotitania-Activated Carbon, Suspended and Immobilized Catalyst

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