Magnetization of TiO2 nanofibrous spheres by one-step ultrasonic assisted electrochemical technique

In this study, a novel hydrothermal method followed by an ultrasonic-assisted electrochemical process was used to synthesize magnetic nanofibrous spheres of TiO2 to improve their separation and recovery from the treated wastewaters. To this end, titanate nanofibrous spheres (TNS) were first synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and they were magnetized (MTNS) by applying electric current through iron electrodes in an ultrasonic bath. The effect of calcination temperature and current intensities were investigated on the structure of the synthesized material. To characterize the MTNS, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), the elemental composition measurement (EDS), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) were used. MTNS loading, pH of the solution and initial dye concentration were studied as main parameters in the removal of MB by photocatalytic and adsorption processes, which resulted in 96% and 78% of removal efficiencies in alkaline solution. The facile and complete separation of MTNS from the treated solutions made the synthesized material reusable for three consecutive photocatalytic cycles. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.