Photodegradation of Rhodamine 6G molecules Using TiO2 photocatalyst

Abstract

In this research different amounts of semiconductor photocatalyst (TiO2) were added to Rhodamine 6G and the mixture were irradiated by narrow band of wavelengths of Ultra violet light in the range of 270 to 280 nanometers. The UV light has energy of 750 mj. In order to study the effect of TiO2, the mixture was irradiated for different exposure time. The reason of different exposure time was to investigate the efficiency of photodegradation of Rhodamine 6G in waste water. The absorption spectra of Rhodamine 6G with different amounts of catalyst, were recorded and compared before and after irradiation by UV light. The results showed that, the efficiency of the photodegradation process was increased with the amount of semiconductor (TiO2) and irradiation time as well. The lower percentage of Rhodamine 6G degragation from waste water was 16% when 100 mg of TiO2 was added and irradiated for 10 min, while the highest percentage of Rhodamine 6G degradation was 82% when 600mg of TiO2 was added and irradiated for 30 min. The study concluded that the degradation of Rhodamine 6G is increased with increasing the amount of semiconductor (TiO2) as well as with increasing the irradiation time. In this research different amounts of semiconductor photocatalyst (TiO2) were added to Rhodamine 6G and the mixture were irradiated by narrow band of wavelengths of Ultra violet light in the range of 270 to 280 nanometers. The UV light has energy of 750 mj. In order to study the effect of TiO2, the mixture was irradiated for different exposure time. The reason of different exposure time was to investigate the efficiency of photodegradation of Rhodamine 6G in waste water. The absorption spectra of Rhodamine 6G with different amounts of catalyst, were recorded and compared before and after irradiation by UV light. The results showed that, the efficiency of the photodegradation process was increased with the amount of semiconductor (TiO2) and irradiation time as well. The lower percentage of Rhodamine 6G degragation from waste water was 16% when 100 mg of TiO2 was added and irradiated for 10 min, while the highest percentage of Rhodamine 6G degradation was 82% when 600mg of TiO2 was added and irradiated for 30 min. The study concluded that the degradation of Rhodamine 6G is increased with increasing the amount of semiconductor (TiO2) as well as with increasing the irradiation time.