Background: The widespread presence of organic dyes in the various industries’ effluent such as paper, textile, and clothing has led to significant environmental pollution. Titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles immobilized on zeolite (ZSM-5) were investigated under UV light for activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for photocatalytic degradation of Orange II (OII) dye in aqueous solutions.
Methods: In this study, the photocatalyst used was prepared by immobilizing different amounts of TiO2 nanoparticles on ZSM-5. Characterization analyses including X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), BET, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were performed on the synthesized samples. Then, the effect of various parameters, such as TiO2 nanoparticles loading onto the ZSM- 5, pH, contact time, dye concentration, and TiO2/ZSM-5 dosage, is investigated for the removal of OII as a model molecule under the UV irradiation with 15 W power.
Results: The highest removal percentage of OII dye (97.44%) was obtained in the optimal operating conditions of pH = 3, the initial dye concentration = 5 ppm, amount of TiO2/ZSM-5 = 10 mg/L, amount of PMS = 50 mg/L, and reaction time = 120 minutes. The Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics model fitted with the experimental data.
Conclusion: The obtained results of this research showed that PMS can be used as a suitable oxidant activated with ZSM-5/TiO2 nanocomposite in OII degradation in different water environments, by optimizing the effective operating factors.