Abstract
Methylene blue dye (MB), prevalent in textiles like cotton, wood, and silk, raises environmental and health concerns. This study presents a successful synthesis of a Bayerite/zeolite nanocomposite powder using fumed silica by-product and aluminum nitrate. Hydrothermal exploration of factors, including duration, temperature, and Al/Si ratios, revealed that high temperature (160°C) and short duration (6h) favored optimal crystallization of bayerite/zeolite phases. Subsequently, an integrated photocatalytic adsorbent (IPA) was developed by mechanically mixing the synthesized bayerite/zeolite with TiO2, followed by calcination (500 °C, 2 h), demonstrating superior efficiency in MB photodegradation under UV–Vis light. The IPA achieved 100% degradation efficiency for 60 mg/L of MB and maintained good photostability over three cycles. The bayerite/zeolite-supported TiO2 nanocomposite exhibited the generation of positive holes (h +) and active hydroxyl radicals (OH•), showcasing its potential as a promising material for wastewater treatment applications.
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Highlights
• Successful synthesis of Bayerite/zeolite nanocomposite powder from fumed silica waste and aluminum nitrate.
• Development of an integrated photocatalytic adsorbent (IPA) by mixing synthesized bayerite/zeolite with TiO2.
• IPA demonstrated superior efficiency in Methylene Blue (MB) photodegradation under UV-Vis light
• The bayerite/zeolite-supported TiO2 nanocomposite maintained good photostability over three cycles, showcasing its potential for wastewater treatment applications.
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The authors gratefully acknowledge the help provided by the Center of Analysis, Characterization (CAC), Innovation Center (IC) at Caddy Ayyad University (Marrakech, Morocco), and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ataturk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey
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A. Ait Baha handled all the experiments and wrote the main manuscript text. R. Idouhli and K. Tabit corrected the manuscript. A. Ait-karra and O. Zakir helped with the experiment part. B. Dikici helped with the material analysis. M. Khadiri, and A. Abouelfida supervised the present work. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
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baha, A.A., Ait-Karra, A., Idouhli, R. et al. Synergistic Photocatalysis of Bayerite/Zeolite Loaded TiO2 Nanocomposites for Highly Efficient Degradation of Organic Pollutants in Aqueous Environments. Silicon 16, 4843–4856 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-024-03056-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-024-03056-y