Fabrication and optimization of immobilized bentonite and TiO2 photocatalyst in unilayer and bilayer system for the photocatalytic adsorptive removal of methylene blue dye under UV light

Abstract

A highly effective and reusable immobilized unilayer thin coating of bentonite and photocatalyst was fabricated on the glass beaker to remove aqueous methylene blue solution. It was observed that the photocatalytic activity was much higher than that of pure titanium dioxide when applied with bentonite. Preliminary efficiency tests on immobilized TiO2bentonite unilayer coating under UV light for methylene blue removal proved that the immobilized TiO2-bentonite unilayer thin coating was suitable for degradation of dye. The influence of different compositions of TiO2 - Bentonite in unilayer was investigated that showed 0.50:0.50 ratios as a best for maximum photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in aqueous medium. The photocatalytic activity was significantly dependent on the composition of bentonite - TiO2 that quenches the dye removal efficiency as composition increase or decrease 1;1 ratio. It is also reported that bentonite - TiO2 unilayer thing coating system is better than the bilayer system.