Characterization and application of C-TiO2 doped cellulose acetate nanocomposite film for removal of Reactive Red-195

This article introduces research on the synthesis and characteristics of C-TiO2 doped cellulose acetate (CA) nanocomposite film. TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized from Ilmenite mineral in Binh Dinh, Vietnam, and modified by Stevia Rebaudiana plant in order to serve as a cheap, stable, and eco-friendly photocatalyst that could perform under visible light. Nanocomposite film was obtained by dispersing C-TiO2 on cellulose acetate polymer using a supersonic generator. The prepared material was characterized by X-ray diffractions (XRD), N-2 adsorption, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra, scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The film's photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated via the decomposition of Reactive Red-195 (RR-195) under visible irradiation at room temperature. The results showed that the maximum conversion of RR-195 reached 99.15% at pH = 3 and the activity of the catalyst had a slight decrease after up to four times of recycling, for which the conversion of the fourth reaction was 90.02% for RR-195. This result suggests an efficient treatment method to eliminate organic pollutants from wastewater and stimulate these industrial activities in Vietnam.