Breakdown cost and recycling processes of Bentonite/TiO2 quantum dots of photo and solar degradation of Congo Red dye and industrial dyes wastes

This research presents the preparation, characterization, and application of a novel bentonite- TiO₂ quantum dot (Bent/TQ) nanocomposite for the efficient photodegradation of Congo Red dye, a common pollutant in industrial wastewater. The composite was prepared via a co-precipitation method followed by calcination, which facilitated the uniform dispersion of TiO₂ quantum dots within the bentonite matrix. The resulting material exhibited a high specific surface area of 205.45 m²/g and an optimized band gap of 3.15 eV, making it suitable for visible light photocatalysis. The photocatalytic efficiency of Bent/TQ was evaluated under both xenon lamp irradiation and natural sunlight. The composite demonstrated a significant degradation rate constant of 23.35 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹, which is comparable to that of pure TiO₂ quantum dots (28.86 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹). Mechanistic studies revealed that the primary active species responsible for the degradation were hydroxyl radicals (•OH), generated through the interaction of photogenerated electron-hole pairs with H₂O molecules and molecular oxygen. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) analyses were employed to assess the mineralization efficiency of the composite. The Bent/TQ catalyst achieved a COD removal efficiency of 84.5 % and a TOC reduction of 76.2 % after 240 min of irradiation under natural sunlight. Reusability tests indicated that the photocatalyst retained approximately 80 % of its original efficiency after seven consecutive cycles, though a slight decline was observed due to particle agglomeration under prolonged light exposure. The economic analysis suggested that the use of Bent/TQ nanocomposites could reduce operational costs by 29.12 % compared to conventional TiO₂-based systems, making it a cost-effective solution for large-scale wastewater treatment. This work highlights the potential of Bent/TQ nanocomposites as sustainable and efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation, with future efforts aimed at enhancing their long-term stability and expanding their applicability to a broader range of pollutants.