Abstract
This study aims to improve the photocatalytic activity of  TiO
 in removing organic contaminants from water. The practical
use of  TiO2 nanopowder is restricted due to issues related to catalyst recovery and reuse. The study investigates supportingTiO2 on natural clay (Kaolin) for phenazopyridine's photodegradation to address this issue. A series of experiments were
carried out, looking at  TiO2 supported on clay and unsupported  TiO2 (both anatase and rutile phases), while also taking into account N-doping, annealing temperature, and pH values. The outcomes demonstrated that rutile  TiO2/Clay) exhibited the highest catalytic eiciency, capable of removing up to 90% of phenazopyridine within just 60 min under
particular circumstances. It is interesting that the ideal pH for this process was discovered to be 8.7, or roughly equal to the natural surface water pH value which is ranged 6.5–8.5. The optimal photocatalyst annealing temperature was 500 °C, and the optimal photodegradation temperature was 35 °C. Furthermore, catalyst recovery and reuse tests indicated sustained efficiency over four cycles, highlighting its durability. High-performance liquid chromatography, total organic carbon, and elemental analysis validated phenazopyridine's complete breakdown and mineralization. This study emphasizes the signiicance of supportingTiO2 on clay to improve its photocatalytic activity and circumvent the drawbacks of its nanopowder form, in addition to the clay's synergistic efect due to the acceptable amount of ZnO present in the clay composition, which participates in the photodegradation of phenazopyridine. Due to its wide availability and thermal stability, this composite holds signiicant potential for water puriication and environmental remediation.
 

Title

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Publisher

Springer

Publisher Country

United States of America

Indexing

Thomson Reuters

Impact Factor

3.1

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

--

Year

2024

Pages

--