TiO2 (rutile) embedded inulin—A versatile bio-nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Published Date

5 June 2016, Vol.143:51–60, doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.01.054

Title 

TiO₂ (rutile) embedded inulin—A versatile bio-nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

• Author 

• G. Jayanthi Kalaivani ^,
• S.K. Suja 

• Department of Chemistry, Lady Doak College, Tallakulam, Madurai 625002, Tamilnadu, India

Received 16 August 2015. Revised 9 January 2016. Accepted 25 January 2016. Available online 28 January 2016.

Highlights

• •
  A versatile biopolymer–Inulin was extracted from Allium Sativum L. (Garlic) by adopting a simple route.
• •
  Reinforcement of the properties of both inulin and TiO₂ was achieved by embedding TiO₂ onto the extracted inulin.
• •
  Enhanced photo catalytic activity was exhibited by Inulin-TiO₂ compared to Pristine TiO₂.
• •
  A simple approach to eco-toxicity minimization through degradation of harmful dyes was proposed.

Abstract

Inulin, a water soluble carbohydrate polymer, was extracted from Allium sativum L. by hot water diffusion method. A novel bio-nanocomposite was prepared by embedding TiO₂ (rutile) onto the inulin matrix. The extracted inulin and the prepared bio-nanocomposite were characterized using UV–vis, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM and TGA techniques. The photocatalytic activity of the bio-nanocomposite for the degradation of methylene blue was studied under UV illumination in batch mode experiment and was found to be twice as high as that of pristine TiO₂. The k_app for inulin–TiO₂ (0.0449 min⁻¹) was higher than that for TiO₂ (0.0325 min⁻¹) which may be due to the synergistic action of inulin and TiO₂. The stabilization of photo excited electron suppressed the electron–hole pair recombination thereby inducing the electrons and the holes to participate in the photo reduction and oxidation processes, respectively and enhancing the photocatalytic activity.

Keywords

• Inulin
• TiO₂
• Rutile
• Bio-nanocomposite
• Photocatalytic activity
• Methylene blue

Chemical compounds studied in this article

• Inulin (PubChem CID: 16219508)
• TiO₂–rutile (PubChem CID:26042)
• Methylene blue (PubChem CID:6099)

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• ⁎ 
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