Effects Of Some Operating Parameters On Photocatlytic Activity Of AgN Co-Doped Tio2 Nonocomposite Under Visible Irradiation

ABSTRACT Ag-NTiO2 nanoparticles have been prepared from commercial TiO2 Degussa P-25. The prepared sample was calcined at 400 C for 4 hours. The composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction XRD analysis was carried out to determine the crystalline phases of the synthesized material Transmission Electron Microscopy TEM used to analyze the size and morphology of nonmaterial Ultraviolet Visible Spectroscopy UV-VIS to determine the maximum wavelength. The effect of calcination temperature catalyst loading initial pH and silver doping on the photocatalytic efficiency of the sample was tested using methyl orange MO as a target pollutant. Results shows titanate phase could transform to anatase phase at the calcination temperature higher than 300 C and with further increase in the calcination temperature from 700 to 900 C the intensity of rutile phase increased. TEM images of Ag-NTiO2 nanocomposite were measured and the size of the particles is in the range 1015 nm. While the absorption edge of the nano-composite was observed at an absorption band of 540 nm. Silver content has an optimum value of 0.5 M for achieving high photocatalytic activity. However too much silver loading will result in a negative effect and photocatalytic degradation of MO decreases. Ag-NTiO2- visible photocatalysts achieved the highest photodegradation efficiency with a MO conversion of 87.42 and 84.32 after 180 min of visible and UV irradiation respectively. The effects of pH on the photodegradation efficiency which include optimum amount of Ag-NTiO2 400 mgL photocatalyst and fixed concentration of MO 100 ppm the highest degradation was observed at pH 2.