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Effects of concentration and UV radiation wavelengths on photolytic and photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes aqueous solutions by sol-gel TiO2 films

The photocatalytic and photolytic degradation of anionic azo dyes Methyl Orange and Congo Red dye aqueous solutions was investigated in glass reactors with/without TiO2 films that were irradiated with UV light. Two nanostructured sol-gel TiO2 films were prepared by means of the dip-coating technique with and without of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a structure- directing agent. Experiments were carried out by varying the concentration of dyes, TiO2 films and sources of UV radiation. The concentrations of dyes were 0.0125 mmol L-1, 0.025 mmol L-1 and 0.05 mmol L-1 ; the wavelengths of the incident ultraviolet light were predominantly 254 (UV-C) and 365 nm (UV- A). In the presence of TiO2 film UV-C radiation showed higher degradation efficiency for both dyes than UV-A radiation. Also, UV-C radiation without TiO2 photocatalyst was capable of degrading both dyes, while UV-A radiation alone did not show a potential for dyes degradation. Higher photoactivity showed TiO2 film with addition of PEG.

UV radiation; TiO2 film; Congo red dye; Methyl Orange dye; photocatalysis; photolysis

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