Cu(II) Doped TiO2 for Photodegradation of Remazol Black B in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

In the present investigation, Cu(II) doped TiO₂ was prepared by a precipitation method. The precipitate was calcined at 300 ºC for
2 hours. The prepared doped catalyst was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX)
spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). SEM images revealed that the morphology of the doped catalyst was different from
that of TiO₂. Elemental analysis was accomplished by EDX that indicated the presence of Cu, Ti and O atoms in the prepared sample.
XRD analysis confirmed that TiO₂ was present as anatase with almost no distortion in peak position due to the presence of Cu(II)
in some interstitial sites. Photodegradation of remazol black B (RBB) was carried out at different experimental conditions under
different light sources. The catalytic efficiency of Cu(II) doped TiO₂ increased up to a certain dosage then reduced with a further
increase in the amount of photocatalyst. The optimum conditions for degradation was found at pH 3.0 under UV light. Under these
experimental conditions, Cu(II) doped TiO₂ degraded 98.8% of RBB, on the other hand, undoped TiO₂ degraded only 80.0% of RBB.

Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 70(1): 64-69, 2022 (January)