Polyaniline/Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes-A Promising Photocatalyst Composite for Reactive Blue 4 Oxidation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Textile industry wastewater often contains persistent organic pollutants like Reactive Blue 4 dye.
• Efficient and cost-effective methods for dye removal are crucial for environmental protection.
• Developing novel photocatalysts is key to advancing wastewater treatment technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize polyaniline/multi-walled carbon nanotube (PANI-MWCNT) nanocomposites for photocatalytic dye removal.
• To investigate the photocatalytic efficiency of these nanocomposites in degrading Reactive Blue 4 dye under UV illumination.
• To explore the optimal composition of PANI-MWCNT for maximum dye degradation and understand the reaction kinetics.

Main Methods:

• PANI-MWCNT nanocomposites were synthesized using direct oxidation polymerization of aniline in the presence of varying wt% of MWCNTs (0-10 wt%).
• The synthesized materials were characterized using FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy to confirm the interaction between PANI and MWCNTs.
• Photocatalytic activity was evaluated by monitoring the degradation of Reactive Blue 4 dye in aqueous solutions under UV light, with varying nanocomposite compositions (P-0 to P-10).

Main Results:

• The characterization confirmed successful integration of MWCNTs within the PANI matrix.
• The PANI-MWCNT nanocomposites exhibited significant photocatalytic activity for Reactive Blue 4 dye removal, with the P-7 sample showing the highest efficiency.
• The dye concentration was halved within 5 minutes of UV illumination, and complete removal was achieved at low contaminant levels.
• The degradation process followed pseudo-second order kinetics, with rate constants ranging from 0.0036-0.1115 L.mg^-1.min^-1.

Conclusions:

• PANI-MWCNT nanocomposites are highly effective photocatalysts for the removal of Reactive Blue 4 dye from wastewater.
• The optimal composition (P-7) demonstrates superior photocatalytic performance compared to pure PANI or other composite ratios.
• These findings highlight the potential of PANI-MWCNT nanocomposites for industrial-scale wastewater treatment applications, particularly for textile dyeing effluents.