Synthesis and evaluation of iron-doped titania/silane based hydrogel for the adsorptional photocatalytic degradation of Victoria blue under visible light.

Novel photocatalyst, poly(itaconic acid-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-1-sulfonic acid) iron doped titania/silane was successfully prepared by the polymerization of iron doped titania/silane and two functional monomers, itaconic acid and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-1-sulfonic acid in aqueous solution using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker and benzoylperoxide as initiator. The sample was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) techniques. Effects of various factors like pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, and ionic strength on the adsorption capacity of photocatalyst for Victoria blue (VB) were studied by batch adsorption experiments. The kinetic data were found to follow pseudo-second-order kinetic model with low chi square, χ(2) values and R(2) values closer to unity. The equilibrium data were in well agreement with Langmuir isotherm model and maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 153.89 mg/g. The swelling capacity of the adsorbent with changes in pH, time and temperature was also investigated. The kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of VB by the photocatalyst found to follow first-order kinetics. The regeneration and repeated use of photocatalyst were also examined upto four cycles. The prepared photocatalyst was found to be efficient photocatalyst-cum-adsorbent for the degradation of VB from aqueous solutions under solar light.