Photocatalytic Degradation of Dyes Using Titania Nanoparticles Supported in Metal-Organic Materials Based on Iron

Abstract

Composite materials based on titania nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) and three metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) called <i>MIL-53 (Fe)</i> ((Fe (III) (OH) (1,4-BDC)), MILs (Materials Institute Lavoisier)), <i>MIL-100 (Fe)</i> (Fe₃O(H₂O)₂OH(BTC)₂), and <i>Fe-BTC</i> (iron-benzenetricarboxylate) with different percentages of TiO₂ NPs (0.5, 1, and 2.5% wt.) were synthesized using the solvothermal method and used as photocatalytic materials in the degradation of two dyes (Orange II and Reactive Black 5 (RB5)). The pristine and composite materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction, Raman, UV-Vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The 2.5TiO₂/MIL-100 composite material showed the best results for the degradation of both dyes (Reactive Black 5 and Orange II dye, 99% and 99.5% degradation in 105 and 150 min, respectively). The incorporation of TiO₂ NPs into MOFs can decrease the recombination of the change carrier in the MOF, increasing the photocatalytic activity of a pristine MOF. Results therefore indicated that the synthesized MOF nanocomposites have good potential for wastewater treatment.