Remediation of Contaminated Water, Using Iron Doped Titanium Dioxide as a Photocatalyst.

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) materials were used as catalysts in the photocatalytic aqueous degradation of acid orange 7 (AO7). The materials were synthesized using the sol-gel technique and under hydrothermal conditions. In order to achieve a more efficient use of sunlight, the materials were modified with different loads of iron. The characterization studies showed the presence of the anatase phase in the internal crystalline structure, the materials´ mesoporous nature, and the displacement to longer wavelengths with the addition of iron. The reactions were carried out in a batch reactor irradiated from its sides. The catalyst modified with an iron load of 0.1 %wt. was found to be the most active, increasing the percentage of the contaminant degradation to 54%, in relation to the 26% obtained with the unmodified TiO₂. At higher metal contents, the activity decreased even below 26%.