Photocatalysis degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in water environment using synthesized TiO₂ nanoparticles

Abstract

The present study investigated the photodegradation of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in a water environment using synthesized titania nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs). The TiO2-NPs fabricated by sol-gel method were distinguished by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Infrared spectroscopy (IR), and zeta potential measurements. The results indicated that TiO2 - NPs were nanospheres of appropriately 30nm with a major anatase phase. Synthesized TiO2-NPs have the point of zero charge (PZC) of around 6.0. The efficient conditions for photocatalysis degradation of 2,4-D under sunlight were considered and found to be 120 min, pH 11, and 1 mM KCl. Under ideal conditions, the photodegradation efficiency of 2,4-D reached greater than 72 %. Our results suggest that TiO2-NPs would be promisingly applied for eliminating 2,4-D from an aqueous solution.