Sonocatalytic removal of an organic dye using TiO₂/ Montmorillonite nanocomposite

The sonocatalytic performance of the synthesized TiO₂/ Montmorillonite K10 (TiO₂/MMT) nanocomposite was studied in removal of Basic Blue 3 (BB3) from water. The TiO₂/MMT nanocomposite was prepared by hydrothermal method. Scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared were used to characterize the synthesized nanocomposite. The average size of TiO₂ nanoparticles decreased from 60-80 nm to 40-60 nm through the immobilization of this semiconductor on the surface of MMT. The obtained results indicated that the sonocatalytic activity of TiO₂/MMT nanocomposite was higher than that of pure TiO ₂ nanoparticles and MMT particles. Furthermore, the main influence factors on the sonocatalytic activity such as the BB3 concentration, pH of solution, TiO₂/MMT dose, power of ultrasonic generator, and inorganic salts were studied. The intermediates of BB3 degradation during the sonocatalytic process in the presence of the TiO₂/MMT nanocomposite have been monitored by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.