Solar light-driven photocatalytic degradation of Anthraquinone dye-contaminated water by engineered Ag@TiO2 core–shell nanoparticles

Abstract

Abstract: The Ag core–TiO<inf>2</inf> shell (Ag@TiO<inf>2</inf>) nanoparticles were synthesized by one-pot synthesis method followed by calcination and characterized using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The Ag@TiO<inf>2</inf> core–shell-structured nanocatalyst was evaluated for its photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of Acid Blue-129 (AB-129), an Anthraquinone dye under solar light irradiations. The nanoparticles were engineered for efficient photocatalytic degradation of AB-129 by varying the parameters such as catalyst composition, calcination temperature, and calcination time. The catalyst composition with Ag to Ti molar ratio of 1:1.7, calcination temperature of 450°C, and time of 3 h were found to be the optimum for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of AB-129. The efficacy of Ag@TiO<inf>2</inf> was compared with commercial TiO<inf>2</inf>, synthesized nano-TiO<inf>2</inf>, and Ag-doped TiO<inf>2</inf> for the photocatalytic degradation of AB-129 and enhanced dye degradation was obtained with Ag@TiO<inf>2</inf>. This enhanced activity of Ag@TiO<inf>2</inf> may be attributed to the trapping of conduction band electrons in Ag core and subsequent discharge on supply of air. Solar photocatalytic degradation of AB-129 dye using Ag@TiO<inf>2</inf> followed Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics. Ag@TiO<inf>2</inf> can be exploited as an efficient catalyst for the degradation of dye and textile industry wastewater. © 2014, © 2014 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.