The decolourisation of Methyl Orange and textile effluent under UV using commercial and synthesized nano-TiO2

Abstract

The efficiency of the nanophotocatalysts was determined in a laboratory prepared solutions of model dye compound methyl orange (MO), which is a dyestuff typically applied on textiles. The reduction in the concentration of the dye over time was measured by using UV-VIS spectrophotometry. The decolourisation of MO solutions was characterized at the onset and after exposure to 9W germicidal UV lamps at various time intervals, viz. 30, 60, 120, 180, 300 and 420 minutes. The color transformation from dark-orange, (MO) to a transparent clear solution or a slightly colored solution is an indication of the decomposition of the organic dye contaminants into lower molecular weight organics and innocuous CO2 and water. The results show that the commercial nano-TiO2 is more efficient in decolourising the model dye and the textile effluents.