Ultra-violet light and titanium dioxide catalyzed oxidation of red dye-79

Abstract

This research focused on the color destruction of red dye-79 in aqueous solution. Red dye-79 is a typical pollutant in the textile industrial wastewater streams. A 50 parts per million (ppm) aqueous solution of this dye was used for all experiments. Although, there are many conventional techniques for the treatment, the research investigated a new methodology, which uses the synthetic ultraviolet radiation (254 nanometers) in combination with an undoped semi-conductor powder titanium dioxide (TiO₂) anatase for the photo-catalytic destruction of inorganics and organic moieties responsible for color in aqueous solution of red dye-79. Also, investigated were the effects of the oxidant hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) added externally to enhance the reaction kinetics for color destruction. Ultraviolet absorbance readings at 512 nanometers were employed to quantify the color destruction. The effects of reaction parameters catalyst (TiO₂), oxidant (H₂O₂), alkalinity and, dye concentrations as well as pH, on dye destruction kinetics were also quantified.