Application of the statistical analysis methodology for photodegradation of methyl orange using a new nanocomposite containing modified TiO₂ semiconductor with SnO₂

ABSTRACT

Pure anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles and two kinds of TiO₂–SnO₂ nanocomposite with different amounts of SnO₂ nanoparticles (A-S (1-1) and A-S (1-2)) are synthesised. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern is used for the characterisation of the synthesised samples. The XRD results confirmed that synthesised TiO₂ nanoparticles have an anatase structure and SnO₂ nanoparticles possess a tetragonal structure. The results of TEM reveal that the particle size of the TiO₂ nanoparticles is less than 30 nm. Meanwhile, the SnO₂ nanoparticle is successfully introduced onto the outer surface of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The variation in the removal efficiency of methyl orange as an organic pollutant with UV irradiation time, weight fraction of synthesised photocatalysts and pH is investigated. The obtained results confirm that the removal efficiency of methyl orange increases in respect of the UV irradiation time and weight fraction. In addition, it is observed that the highest and lowest removal efficiencies occur at pH = 3 and pH = 11, respectively. Meanwhile, the results reveal that the removal efficiency of methyl orange is enhanced in respect of the SnO₂ nanoparticles content in the synthesised nanocomposite. The analysis of variance investigation reveals that all the main factors have a significant effect on the removal efficiency of pollutant. Meanwhile, the proposed models can accurately predict the variation of the removal efficiency with studied parameters.

KEYWORDS:

• TiO₂ nanoparticles
• SnO₂ nanoparticles
• decorated
• photodegradation
• organic pollutant
• analysis of variance

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the help given by the head of Central Research Nano Laboratory of Esfarayen University of Technology.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.