Harnessing Solar Energy: Photocatalytic Degradation of Cationic Dyes via Carbon-Doped TiO₂ Nanocomposites in Advanced Oxidation Processes
نویسندگان
1 Department of Optics Technologies, College of Health & Medical Technology, Sawa University, Almuthana, Iraq
2 Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, AL-Nisour University College, Baghdad, Iraq
3 Department of Chemistry, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Iraq
4 Department of Chemistry, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Iraq
5 Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Al-Ameed, Iraq
6 4 Department of Sciences, Al-Manara College for Medical Sciences, Maysan, Iraq
doi
10.22052/JNS.2025.02.011چکیده
The rapid pace of urbanization and industrialization has undoubtedly advanced modern manufacturing but has simultaneously contributed to severe environmental challenges, particularly through elevated levels of airborne emissions and wastewater discharges. Among various strategies to mitigate these impacts, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has garnered significant attention as an effective photocatalyst, owing to its low cost, chemical stability, non-toxicity, and environmentally friendly nature. TiO₂ is recognized for its exceptional photocatalytic capabilities in degrading environmental pollutants, supported by its wide bandgap energy of 3.2 eV, characteristic of an n-type semiconductor.In this study, C/TiO₂ nanocomposite photocatalyst was synthesized via a straightforward hydrothermal method to enhance photocatalytic performance. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized nanocomposite were thoroughly characterized using techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). A systematic investigation was conducted to optimize the photocatalytic degradation of Brilliant Blue (BB) dye by evaluating the influence of key operational parameters, including dye concentration, catalyst loading, irradiation time, and solution pH. Mathematical modeling identified the optimal conditions for maximum photocatalytic efficiency as follows: pH 7, catalyst mass of 0.2 g, BB dye concentration of 20 mg·L⁻¹, and an irradiation period of 120 minutes. Under these conditions, a degradation efficiency of 90.25% was achieved, demonstrating the potential of the C/TiO₂ nanocomposite as an effective and sustainable photocatalyst for wastewater treatment applications.
