Characterization and Performance of TiO2 Nanoparticles Prepared by Microwave in Different Mixtures of Water and Ethylene Glycol for the Food Dye E131 VF Degradation

Abstract

In this research, TiO2 NP were prepared by MW-R and conventional SG methods, using TTIP as Ti precursor, in the presence of different mixtures of distilled H2O and ETG (0 < H2O/ETG < 100%), as a solvent. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, Raman, FTIR, EDX/ SEM, N2 physisorption, DLS and UV/visible DRS techniques. XRD and Raman analyses showed that Ant phase dominated, with traces of Rt or Brk phases, in some samples. According to K-M curves, TiO2 calculated EG decreased with an increase in Rt phase percentage. PC performance of the prepared samples was tested on E131 VF. Kinetic evaluations showed that Rt percentage and surface area had a significant role in TiO2 NP PC performance. E131 VF degradation high RC were obtained in an AU by 0% ETG SG (0.130 (AU)) and 0% ETG MW-R (0.113 (AU)), due to the high surface area and Rt absence. The samples (x% ETG) synthesized by the MW-R method showed low pore volume and PC performance that might have been be due to a blockage of the pores and screening effect of some combustion products or residual ETG, which carried UV irradiation to the catalyst surface. © 2023, Sociedade Portuguesa de Electroquimica. All rights reserved.