Photocatalytic decolorization of auramine and its kinetics study in the presence of two different sizes titanium dioxide nanoparticles at various buffer and non-buffer media

In this research, photocatalytic decolorization and its kinetics study of auramine dye at various aqueous buffer and non-buffer media using nano-titanium dioxide in two different sizes of 15 and 70 nm in a photocatalyic reactor under 400 W high pressure mercury lamp irradiation under aerobic condition is described. The effects of some physico-chemical parameters such as photocatalyst dosage, medium pH and irradiation time were investigated in the presence of two different nano-photocatalysts and then the results were compared with each other. Kinetics study of photocatalytic treatment of auramine dye resulted that the dye decolorization approximately follows a pseudo-first order kinetic behavior according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. Ultimately, the observed rate constants, experimental half-times, adsorption constants and decolorization rate constants at surface at buffer and non-buffer media under aerobic conditions were evaluated. (C) 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.