Open AccessSynthesis and Application of Novel Coal Fly Ash Supported C-Doped TiO2-SnO2 Photocatalytic Nanocomposite for the Removal of Dyes in Water
Author(s) -
S. Sambakanya,
Pardon Nyamukamba,
David M. Katwire,
Henry H. Mungondori,
Patrick Mukumba,
Omobola O. Okoh
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
asian journal of chemistry/asian journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.145
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 0975-427X
pISSN - 0970-7077
DOI - 10.14233/ajchem.2020.22972
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , methyl orange , nanocomposite , chemistry , photodegradation , methylene blue , anatase , titanium dioxide , nuclear chemistry , fly ash , titanium oxide , rutile , calcination , visible spectrum , chemical engineering , materials science , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , catalysis , optoelectronics , engineering
Herein, the preparation, characterization and applications of novel carbon doped titanium dioxide andtin oxide nanocomposite supported on coal fly ash (C-TiO2-SnO2/CFA) are reported. The nanocompositenanoparticles were successfully synthesized by a sol-gel method and calcined at 550 ºC. XRD analysisshowed that SnO2 nanoparticles were polycrystalline in nature and TiO2 had both anatase and rutilephases. Diffuse reflectance spectra showed that carbon doping reduced the band gap of TiO2 from 3.19eV to 2.78 eV. The nanoparticles′ photocatalytic activity was evaluated using methyl orange andmethylene blue dyes, under both UV light and solar irradiation at different pH, pollutant concentrationand photocatalyst loading. High photodegradation rates of methyl orange were achieved under visiblelight. The optimum loading of composite photocatalyst was 0.4 g with removal efficiencies of 97.75%for methyl orange and 99.25% for methylene blue after 3 h. High removal efficiencies were achievedfor methyl orange at pH 3 and for methylene blue at pH 10.