Photocatalytic paraquat degradation over TiO2 modified by hydrothermal technique in alkaline solution

Abstract In the present research, titanium nanotubes were synthesized via the soft hydrothermal method. A study on the effect of the synthesizing parameters such as aging temperature and time of the hydrothermal process on the photocatalytic paraquat degradation was explored. Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to determine the influence of the preparation parameter on the optimal condition, main and interaction effects on crystalline size, percent paraquat removal by adsorption and photocatalytic degradation as responses. The XRD pattern of the synthesized nanomaterial reported the anatase phase of titania nanotubes. SEM image of the prepared nanomaterial clearly indicated the agglomerated with tubular structure. Band gap energy of the nanotubes was found lower than that of the pure anatase TiO2. Paraquat removal by adsorption is more effective than by photocatalytic degradation. The error of the model remains insignificant for all the three responses.