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Photocatalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium with commercial Fe/Ti oxide catalyst under UV and visible light irradiation

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Abstract

The photoreduction efficiency of toxic hexavalent chromium into non-toxic trivalent chromium was studied using local low-cost material and modern technology. The materials involved different iron–titanium oxide nanopowders synthesized via simple hydrothermal–hydrolysis process. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscope were employed to study the structural properties of the as-prepared samples. The effects of molar ratio (Fe/Ti) and hydrothermal temperature on spectroscopic properties have been investigated using Fourier transform infrared FT-IR spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performance of hexavalent chromium was systematically studied at various conditions including initial concentration of Cr(VI), hydrothermal temperature and Fe/Ti ratios of mixed iron–titanium oxide powders. It has been found that the highest photoreduction efficiencies of Cr(VI) were 95.7 and 86.2% at initial concentrations 10 and 60 ppm of Cr(VI), respectively. The synthesized mixed Fe2O3–TiO2 photocatalyst exhibited higher efficiency of about 88% under visible light irradiation. The as-prepared mixed oxide catalyst exhibited high photocatalytic conversion efficiency and recycling stability in comparison with different commercial catalysts.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are highly appreciated for the El-Nasr Mining Company for Intermediate Chemicals for providing the sample of ilmenite ore.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute, P.O. Box: 87, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt

    M. M. S. Sanad, E. A. Abdel-Aal & H. M. Osman

  2. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt

    A. T. Kandil

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  1. M. M. S. Sanad
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  2. E. A. Abdel-Aal
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  3. H. M. Osman
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  4. A. T. Kandil
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Correspondence to M. M. S. Sanad.

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Editorial responsibility: V.K. Gupta.

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Sanad, M.M.S., Abdel-Aal, E.A., Osman, H.M. et al. Photocatalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium with commercial Fe/Ti oxide catalyst under UV and visible light irradiation. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 15, 2459–2472 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1628-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1628-0

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