Mineralization of Azo Dye Using Combined Photo-Fenton and Photocatalytic Processes under Visible Light
Visible-light-assisted photodegradation of an azo dye, Reactive Red 180 (RR180), in the presence of nitrogen-doped TiO2 (N-TiO2) has been studied. The photodegradation of RR180 is evaluated through decolorization studies and total organic carbon analysis. The efficacy of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), potassium peroxomonosulfate (oxone or PMS), and potassium peroxodisulfate (PDS) in improving the photodegradation of the dye in the N-TiO2-RR180 system is also examined. The effect of combining photo-Fenton-like reaction with N-TiO2-mediated photodegradation of RR180 under visible light has been investigated. The photoactivity of N-TiO2-RR180-Fe3+/Cu2+-oxidant systems is compared with the individual techniques of photocatalysis and photo-Fenton-like reactions. The coupled system possesses superior photomineralization ability towards the abatement of RR180.