Photocatalytic Decolouration of Reactive Orange 16 (R3R) Dye

Abstract

Photocatalytic decolouration of dyes is a new concern among researchers since it offers an attractive method for decolouration of dyes and breaks them into simple mineral forms. Commonly the method utilises a TiO2 semiconductor and UV light. Later on to increase efficiency, the method was developed using applied potential as known photoelectrocatalysis. Experiments were carried out in a larger-scale photoelectrocatalytic reactor equipped with TiO2 photo-anode and Ni counter electrode to degrade an azo Reactive Orange 16 (RO 16) dye. Effect of applied potential, UV irradiation, anion of electrolytes (Na2SO4 and NaCl) and pH has been investigated. It was found that decolouration going to faster in the present of ion chloride. To compare photoelectrocatalytic and photocatalytic method, it has been tried to use a non-woven paper (supplied by Ahlstrom) and the TiO2 (Millenium PC500) in slurry by removing the electrodes. The rate of decolouration by photoelectrocatalytic method was very similar to that which by non-woven paper and TiO2 in slurry.