Development of a new magnetic mesoporous activated carbon for the photocatalytic degradation of basic red 18 and reactive red 180 dyes under UVA radiation

In this study, the UVA-induced degradation of Basic Red 18 and Reactive Red 180 was examined using a photocatalytic treatment system using magnetic activated carbon derived from the fruit rind of Brachychiton populneus. Numerous factors, including the pH of the solution, the dose of photocatalyst, and the initial concentration of the dye, have been optimized because they affect the photocatalytic activity of magnetic activated carbon.The pH of the solution (6 for basic Red 18 and reactive red 180) and 0.75 g L⁻¹ of magnetic activated carbon with a degradation rate of 100% and 82% for Basic Red 18 and Reactive Red 180, respectively, are the parameters that should be set at their optimal values for an initial dye concentration of 50 mg L⁻¹. Superoxide and electrons are the main active species and play a major role in the photocatalytic degradation of dyes by magnetic activated carbon under UVA light irradiation. The two dyes had five cycles of reuse, according to a study on magnetic activated carbon that was completed under optimal conditions.