TiO2-Zeolite Composite Modified Iron Nanoparticles for the Removal of Cr(VI) from Wastewater

Zero valent iron (Fe0) particles are significant in wastewater treatment because of their high reactivity, rapid kinetics, magnetic characteristics, and eco-friendliness. The primary drawbacks of Fe0 nanoparticles are their rapid oxidation and aggregation. In this study, novel TiO2-zeolite composites with different percentages of TiO2 were prepared and applied for Fe0 stabilization. The TiO2-zeolite composite was synthesized using the sonication of components, subsequently employing the hydrothermal technique. Iron nanoparticles were included into the TiO2-zeolite composite using the wet impregnation method followed by liquid-phase reduction. For comparative study with TiO2-zeolite-Fe nanoparticles, TiO2-Fe and zeolite-Fe nanoparticles were also prepared. The characterization of TiO2 and zeolite modified Fe nanoparticles were done by XRD, HRTEM, EDAX, FTIR and UV-visible spectroscopic techniques. The study evaluated the efficiency of prepared TiO2-Fe, zeolite-Fe and TiO2-zeolite-Fe nanoparticles to remove Cr(VI) from wastewater.