Photocatalytic Degradation of Eosin Yellow Using Poly(pyrrole-co-aniline)-Coated TiO2/Nanocellulose Composite under Solar Light Irradiation

The present study describes the feasibility of a novel adsorbent cum photocatalyst, poly(pyrrole-co-aniline)-coated TiO2/nanocellulose composite (P(Py-co-An)-TiO2/NCC), to remove eosin yellow (EY) from aqueous solutions. The removal of EY was investigated by batch adsorption followed by photocatalysis. The effect of various adsorption parameters like adsorbent dose, pH, contact time, initial concentration, and ionic strength has been optimized for treating effluents from the dye industry. Adsorption of EY reached maximum at pH 4.5 and complete removal of dye was achieved using 3.5 g/L of P(Py-co-An)-TiO2/NCC. Adsorption equilibrium data were fitted with Langmuir and Fritz-Schlunder isotherm models and the kinetics of adsorption follows a second-order mechanism. The adsorption capacity of P(Py-co-An)-TiO2/NCC was found to be 3.39 × 10−5 mol/g and reached equilibrium within 90 min. The photocatalytic degradation of adsorbed dye under sunlight was possible and about 92.3% of dye was degraded within 90 min. The reusability of P(Py-co-An)-TiO2/NCC was also investigated. The results indicate that P(Py-co-An)-TiO2/NCC is the best material for the wiping out of EY from aqueous solutions.