Photocatalytic degradation of a textile dye Reactive Red 31 using phyto-synthesized titanium nanoparticles under solar irradiation

In the present work, we have reported a sustainable and effective method for the degradation of a textile dye Reactive Red 31 (RR31) using synthesized titanium nanoparticles. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized using a noxious weed, Parthenium hysterophorus, as reducing and capping agent for the first time. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized and confirmed as TiO2 nanoparticles by using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. A glass reactor was designed and developed for the degradation of dye under solar radiations. Photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Red 31 was carried out at different concentrations using synthesized nanoparticles. UV-vis spectroscopy, total organic carbon, and total inorganic carbon analysis were carried out for the determination of dye degradation. The results reveal that biogenic TiO2 nanomaterial acts as a good photocatalyst for the degradation of textile dye Reactive Red 31.