TY - JOUR
T1 - Ag2CO3-halloysite nanotubes composite with enhanced removal efficiency for water soluble dyes
AU - Nyankson, Emmanuel
AU - Agyei-Tuffour, Benjamin
AU - Annan, Ebenezer
AU - Yaya, Abu
AU - Mensah, Bismark
AU - Onwona-Agyeman, Boateng
AU - Amedalor, Reuben
AU - Kwaku-Frimpong, Benson
AU - Efavi, Johnson Kwame
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019
PY - 2019/6
Y1 - 2019/6
N2 - The release of water soluble dyes into the environment is an utmost concern in many countries. This paper presents the effects of Ag2CO3-halloysite composites on the efficient removal of water soluble dyes. In this study, NaHCO3 solution was added dropwisely to halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) dispersed in aqueous AgNO3 to form Ag2CO3-HNTs composite. The synthesized Ag2CO3-HNTs composite was characterized with Diffused Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity and the adsorption capacity of Ag2CO3-HNTs on methylene blue and rhodamine b dyes were dependent on pH and the amount of HNTs used in the synthesis. The photodegradation efficiency of Ag2CO3 was lower when compared with that of the composite material. This observation is due to the reduction in the electron-hole recombination with the HNTs acting as electron trapping site and the enhanced aqueous dispersity of Ag2CO3-HNTs. The enhanced adsorption of water soluble dyes by the Ag2CO3-HNTs resulted from the electrostatic attraction of cationic dyes to the surface of the HNTs (negatively charged). The Ag2CO3-HNTs therefore removed dye pollutants through a combination of photocatalytic and adsorption processes. The results obtained during the study confirmed the potential application of Ag2CO3-HNTs composite in water treatment technologies.
AB - The release of water soluble dyes into the environment is an utmost concern in many countries. This paper presents the effects of Ag2CO3-halloysite composites on the efficient removal of water soluble dyes. In this study, NaHCO3 solution was added dropwisely to halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) dispersed in aqueous AgNO3 to form Ag2CO3-HNTs composite. The synthesized Ag2CO3-HNTs composite was characterized with Diffused Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity and the adsorption capacity of Ag2CO3-HNTs on methylene blue and rhodamine b dyes were dependent on pH and the amount of HNTs used in the synthesis. The photodegradation efficiency of Ag2CO3 was lower when compared with that of the composite material. This observation is due to the reduction in the electron-hole recombination with the HNTs acting as electron trapping site and the enhanced aqueous dispersity of Ag2CO3-HNTs. The enhanced adsorption of water soluble dyes by the Ag2CO3-HNTs resulted from the electrostatic attraction of cationic dyes to the surface of the HNTs (negatively charged). The Ag2CO3-HNTs therefore removed dye pollutants through a combination of photocatalytic and adsorption processes. The results obtained during the study confirmed the potential application of Ag2CO3-HNTs composite in water treatment technologies.
KW - Adsorption
KW - AgCO
KW - Halloysite nanotubes
KW - Materials science
KW - Photocatalysis
KW - Water soluble dyes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85067563521&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01969
DO - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01969
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85067563521
SN - 2405-8440
VL - 5
JO - Heliyon
JF - Heliyon
IS - 6
M1 - e01969
ER -