Binary Catalyst System Dye Degradation Using Photocatalysis

In this paper, soy meal hull activated carbon (SMHAC) and titania nanoparticle (TiO2) were used as catalysts to degrade dyes. Activated carbon was prepared using soy meal hull. Degradation of dyes using single and binary catalyst systems was studied. Textile dyes were used as model pollutants. Photocatalytic dye degradation and mineralization were studied using UV-Vis spectrophotometer and ion chromatography (IC). The effects of pH, initial dye concentration, and salt on dye degradation were investigated. Dye solutions were decolorized completely (100 %). The presence of salts decreased dye degradation rate. Degradation of dyes followed first order kinetics model. Formate, acetate, and oxalate were detected as dominant aliphatic intermediates during dye degradation process. Nitrate, sulfate, and chloride anions were detected as dye mineralization products.