An efficient nanostructured zirconium modified TiO₂ for detoxification of azo dye

Abstract

Different weight percentage of ZrO₂-loaded TiO₂ a new catalysts were designed and prepared by sonochemical assisted sol-gel method and utilized for degradation of RO 4 under solar radiation. Highly efficient 5 wt% of ZrO₂-loaded TiO₂ was characterized and confirmed by XRD, TEM, SEM, EDS, DRS, photoluminescence spectral studies, and BET method. ZrO₂-TiO₂ was found to be more efficient than virgin TiO₂, commercial TiO₂-P25, prepared ZrO₂, and ZrO₂-TiO₂ in dark. Furthermore, ZrO₂-TiO₂ has higher absorption than bare TiO₂ in both UV and visible region. The luminescence spectra reveal the suppression of recombination of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs by the ZrO₂ loaded on TiO₂. ZrO₂-TiO₂ is found to be more efficient than prepared TiO₂ and TiO₂-P25 for degradation of RO 4, TB, and AR 27 dyes under solar light. The optimum pH and catalyst loading for efficient removal of dye are found to be 9 and 4 g L⁻¹, respectively.

Keywords:

• Photochemistry
• adsoption
• detoxification
• photoluminescence
• mineralization

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

One of the authors (M. Shanthi) is highly thankful to UGC, New Delhi, India for financial support through research project F.No. 41-288/2012 (SR).