Degradation of Orange G, Acid Blue 161, and Brillant Green Dyes Using UV Light‐Activated GA–TiO2–Cd Composite

Abstract

Abstract In this study, photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity performance are synthesized by synthesizing graphene aerogel‐supported, cadmium‐doped TiO2 composites by hydrothermal method for the effective degradation of organic dyes in wastewater. Here, GA–TiO2–Cd is investigated as a photocatalyst for the degradation of toxic dyes named Orange G, Acid Blue 161, and Brilliant Green in the UV part of the light spectrum. As a result of the experiments, it is observed that the effective decomposition of organic dyes is due to graphene aerogel (GA) and cadmium‐doped TiO2 nanoparticles. The results show that for 20 ppm solutions of Orange G, Acid Blue 161, and Brilliant Green, dyes are removed at approximately 81.075%, 84.15%, and 95.18% in 120 min. The morphology and elemental analysis of the synthesized composites are determined using SEM‐EDS, crystal structure analysis by XRD, chemical bond analysis by FTIR, optical properties by UV‐Vis‐NIR spectrophotometry, and thermal resistance by TGA analysis.

Keywords

• graphene aerogel
• hydrothermal
• metal doping
• photocatalytic activity
• TiO2 nanoparticles