SYNTHESIZE AND CHARACTERIZE NANOCELLULOSE BASED TiO2 NANOCOMPOSITE FOR PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF METHYLENE BLUE

Abstract: The application of dyes in different process industries will cause environmental impact. Thus, the need for removal of dyes using an advanced oxidation process is a vital issue to decrease the effect of dyes. Cellulose was extracted from agricultural waste corn husk using alkali treatment followed by bleaching process. Nanocellulose was prepared from cellulose by acid hydrolysis. Nanocellulose Titanium nanocomposite was prepared by ultrasonication process using acetone solvent. Loading limit of TiO2into nanocellulose was investigated to determine the optimum mass of TiO2 for photocatalyst preparation. Photocatalytic degradation activities of the nano composites under visible light irradiation were evaluated on aqueous solution of a model pollutant Methylene Blue dye solution. Nanocellulose Titanium dioxide composite was used in the photocatalytic decolorization study of methylene blue. Results confirm that nano-composite photocatalyst exhibited a relatively high efficiency on the photodegradation of Methyele blue with 86.7%. During usage of this nanocomposite as a photocatalyst for removal of MB physiochemical characteristics of the photocatalyst, the effect of the various process parameters like initial dye concentration, catalyst loading, pH value and irradiation time on the photodegradation of MB were investigated. NCTs Visible-based photocatalysis was simultaneously able to oxidize MB with an almost complete mineralization of carbon and of nitrogen and sulfur heteroatom’s into CO2, NH4+, NO3−, H2O and SO42−respectivel. In addition to this, analysis on degradation of methylene blue as an organic dye pollutant upon photocatalytic oxidation of TiO2 nanoparticles under Visible-light irradiation was optimized.