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Solar Photocatalytic Decolorization and Detoxification of Industrial Batik Dye Wastewater Using P(3HB)‐TiO 2 Nanocomposite Films
Author(s) -
Sridewi Nanthini,
Tan LiuTzea,
Sudesh Kumar
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
clean – soil, air, water
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1863-0669
pISSN - 1863-0650
DOI - 10.1002/clen.201000344
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , wastewater , chemical oxygen demand , titanium dioxide , nanocomposite , materials science , nuclear chemistry , industrial wastewater treatment , methylene blue , catalysis , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , chemical engineering , waste management , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , composite material , engineering
Solar photocatalytic decolorization and detoxification of batik dye wastewater using titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) immobilized on poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (P(3HB)) film was studied. The effects of initial dye concentration, catalyst concentration, P(3HB) film thickness, and fabrication methods of the nanocomposite films were evaluated against methylene blue, a standard organic dye. It was observed that 0.4 g of P(3HB)‐40 wt% TiO 2 removed 96% of the color under solar irradiation. P(3HB) and TiO 2 , mixed concurrently in chloroform followed by stirring for 24 h showed a more even distribution of the photocatalyst on the polymer surface and yielded almost 100% color removal. The photocatalytic films were able to completely decolorize real industrial batik dye wastewater in 3 h and induced a chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction of 80%. Reusability of the 0.4 g P(3HB)‐40 wt% TiO 2 film in decolorizing the batik dye wastewater was also possible as it gave a high consistent value of decolorization percentage (>80%) even after the sixth repeated usage. Recovery step of the photocatalysts was also not required in this simple treatment system. The decolorized batik dye wastewater had less/no toxic effects on mosquito larvae, Aedes aegypti , and microalgae, Scenedesmus quadricauda indicating simultaneous detoxification process along with the decolorization process.