International Journal of Photoenergy 
Volume 7 (2005), Issue 4, Pages 181-185
doi:10.1155/S1110662X05000279

Photocatalytic efficiency of titanium dioxide immobilized on PVP/AAc hydrogel membranes: A comparative study for safe disposal of wastewater of Remazol Red RB-133 textile dye

Hoda S. Hafez,1,2 A. El-Hag Ali,3 and M. S. A. Abdel-Mottaleb1

 1Photoenergy Center, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo 11566, Egypt
2Dessert Environment Research Institute, Sadat City, Menoufia University, Egypt
3Polymer Chemistry Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, 3 Ahmed El-Zohor St., El-Zohor Distr., Nasr City, P.O. box 29, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

The paper reports on the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 nanoparticles immobilized on polyvinyl pyrrolidone/acrylic acid (PVP/AAc) copolymer hydrogels, which are prepared by means of γ-rays induced homo- and copolymerization. The efficiency of immobilized photocatalyst is tested on a commercial textile dye namely Remazol Red RB-133. The results are compared with photocatalytic efficiencies of different types of non supported TiO2 photocatalysts such as aqueous slurries of colloidal TiO2 prepared by sol-gel technique, and commercially available Degussa P25. Although less efficient than nonsupported ones, the hydrogel supported TiO2 photocatalyst has the practical advantages of easy separation and removal from the reactors. This makes it a viable technique for the safe disposal of textile wastewater into the water streams.