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Red mud accommodated mesoporous black TiO2 framework with enhanced organic pollutant photodegradation
Xiaojie Song1, Ying Meng1, Xin Zhou1
1Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials, Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
|January 5, 2024
Summary
This study introduces black titanium dioxide (BTiO2) on black red mud (BRM) for efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. The composite material offers enhanced visible light activity and magnetic recyclability for wastewater treatment.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Red mud (RM) is an industrial waste with limited utilization.
- Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a widely used photocatalyst but often requires UV light.
- Developing visible-light active and recyclable photocatalysts is crucial for environmental remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize a novel black titanium dioxide (BTiO2) loaded on black red mud (BRM) composite.
- To evaluate the photocatalytic performance of BRM/BTiO2 composites under visible light irradiation.
- To investigate the magnetic separation and recyclability of the prepared photocatalyst.
Main Methods:
- Sol-gel method for TiO2 synthesis.
- H2 reduction treatment to create black TiO2 (BTiO2) and magnetic Fe3O4.
- Loading BTiO2 onto black red mud (BRM) to form BRM/BTiO2 composites.
- Photocatalytic degradation experiments using rhodamine B and tetracycline as model pollutants.
- Magnetic separation for catalyst recovery.
Main Results:
- Successfully prepared low-cost BRM/BTiO2 composites.
- Achieved high degradation efficiencies: 91.2% for rhodamine B and 83.6% for tetracycline under visible light.
- Enhanced photocatalytic activity attributed to narrow bandgap, improved solar light absorption, and efficient electron-hole separation via heterojunctions.
- Demonstrated effective magnetic separation and recyclability of the BRM/BTiO2 composites.
Conclusions:
- BRM/BTiO2 composites are highly effective visible-light photocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants.
- The magnetic properties facilitate easy recovery and reuse of the photocatalyst.
- This work presents a cost-effective approach for red mud utilization and TiO2-based environmental remediation.
