Ruthenium Tris-bypyridine/Zeolite-Y/Titanium Dioxide Nano-Assembly: 'Ship-in-a-Bottle' Synthesis and Application in Heterogeneous Photodegradation of 2,4-xylidine

The synthetic route followed in the encapsulation of [Ru(bPY)(3)](2+) in Zeolite Y is referred to as "ship-in-a-bottle" synthesis due to non-extractability of the [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) complex, once encapsulation has taken place within the cages of the zeolite Y. Nanoparticles of TiO2 was then introduced through TiCl3 in ethylene glycol mixture under argon, with sintering at 200 degrees C. Spectroscopic, surface, and electrochemical characterization confirmed the presence of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) Complex within the cages of zeolite Y, and nanoparticles of TiO2 in its cages. The amount of TiO2 was varied, and the assembly was tested for its photocatalytic activity using degradation of 2,4-xylidine as test reaction probe. The decrease in the concentration of xylidine and the corresponding increase in oxalate concentration were monitored through HPLC. A pseudo-first order kinetics was observed in the photodegradation process based on the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. An inverse correlation was observed between the kinetic rate constant and the obtained Light-Induced Optoacoustic Spectroscopy (LIOAS) frequency maxima. Enhanced rate of photodegradation observed with the use of new and efficient photocatalyst such as [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+)/TiO2 co-doped Zeolite Y may pave the way for development of large-scale advanced oxidation processes for other pollutant system.