Using an economic method to prepare TiO2 from natural ilmenite for photodegradable dye removal

Abstract

In this work, nanoparticles of ilmenite powder (47 nm) were prepared via ball-milling of natural ilmenite ore to enhance the specific surface area of particles. The photocatalytic activity of magnetically separable ilmenite nanoparticles was investigated in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB). The Band gap of the ilmenite nanoparticles was calculated 3.05 eV. The photodegradation results show that ilmenite nanoparticles completely destruct MO and MB in 40 and 50 min under visible irradiation. In order to choose of optimum values of factors, the leaching process was optimized by applying a “Rotatable Central Composite Design” (CCD) technique. For preparing of required precursor, the grind ilmenite was crushed into small particles by ball milling method. In addition, in order to purifying the titanium slag, reduction process was carried out. Effective Factors on sulfuric acid process as follows leaching time, temperature, acid concentration and solid/liquid (S/L) ratio, were studied.

Keywords

• Ilmenite
• Photodegradation
• Rotatable Central Composite Design
• Oxidation processes