Synthesis of Sol-Gel Derived Tio2 Nanoparticles for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange Dye

Heterogeneous pholocatalysis using TiO2 nanoparticles is one of the most powerful advanced oxidation processes. TiO2 has been extensively used to solve the environmental problems relating to wastewaters and polluted air. Here we report synthesis of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles of high surface area (150 m(2)/g) by a very simple and modified sol gel method using controlled hydrolysis of Titanium Tetra Isopropoxide. The synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDX, TEM, BET and UV-Visible spectrophotometty. XRD analysis of TiO2 nanoparticles showed presence of pure anatase phase, SEM images revealed the presence of spherical morphology of the particles. EDX data confirms the composition of Ti to O ratio to be 1:2. From TEM analysis the average particle size of TiO2 was found to be 7nm. The photocatalytic activity of as synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles was checked for the degradation of methyl orange dye as model pollutant using immersion well UV photoreactor equipped with 8W low pressure mercury vapor lamp. The spectrophotometric analysis showed complete degradation of 0.05mM dye solution when 0.4g/L of as synthesized TiO2 was used however commercial Merck anatase TiO2 showed only 50% degradation. COD and TOC data showed substantial mineralization of methyl orange dye for as synthesized TiO2 sample.