Synthesis, Characterization and Visible Photocatalytic Performance of Iron (III) Tetracarboxyphthalocyanine-Sensitized TiO2 Photocatalyst

Fe (III) 2, 9, 16, 23-phthalocyanine tetracarboxylic acid [FePc(COOH)4], synthesized via the reaction of trimellitic anhydride and urea at their melting points, was used to sensitize titanium dioxide by impregnation and adsorption. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy showed that the catalyst could effectively degrade photosensitive organic dyes, such as methylene blue, rhodamine B, neutral red, acid red, and malachite green. With an exposure time of 100 min, the degradation rate for all the dyes was >80%. In addition, in the case of rhodamine B, the FePc(COOH)4/TiO2 system showed the best degradation efficiency at pH=6. To investigate the relationship between degradation concentration and illumination time, first-order degradation kinetics equations were derived. Upon loading TiO2 with phthalocyanine, the photoactivity of TiO2 was extended to the visible light region, potentially enabling the use of solar energy for the photodegradation of organic dyes and other pollutants in wastewater.