Enhanced photoelectrocatalytic degradation of an acid dye with boron-doped TiO2 nanotube anodes

Author(s)

Bessegato, Guilherme Garcia ; Cardoso, Juliano Carvalho ; Boldrin Zanoni, Maria Valnice

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CATALYSIS TODAY; v. 240, p. 7-pg., 2015-02-01.

Abstract

The present work evaluates the performance of boron-doped TiO2 nanotubes (B-TiO2 NTs) prepared by electrochemical anodization in the presence of 70, 140, 280 and 560 ppm of boron when activated by UV/visible irradiation. The presence of boron was characterized by FEG-MEV, XRD, DRS, XPS and photocurrent curves, where the maximum values were obtained for B-TiO2 NTs. Assessment of the electrodes were conducted in the hair dye degradation (Acid Yellow 1 dye) and the degradation rate was 2 times higher at the doped electrode containing 280 ppm of boron, where the maximum electrode activation was obtained under UV/vis irradiation. The best results indicate 100% of discoloration and up to 95% of TOC removal when 100 ppm of Acid Yellow 1 dye was treated at B-TiO2 NTs electrode during 120 min at E-app = +1.2 V in 0.01 mol L-1 of Na2SO4 at pH 2. These findings showed that the photoelectrocatalysis is an efficient method to remove hazardous organic compounds from water and B-doped TiO2 electrodes are an important step in the search for efficient and stable catalysts for photo(electro)catalysis. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/10449-7 - Assessment of occurrence, toxicity/genotoxicity and degradation processes of dyes in effluents and surface water
• Grantee: Maria Valnice Boldrin
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants