Effect of Tea Waste Extract Volume on Synthesis of TiO2 for Photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol

Abstract

The volume effect of tea waste extract was studied in synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) namely TiO₂-1 (1 mL), TiO₂-3 (3 mL) and TiO₂-5 (5 mL). The catalysts were characterized by XRD, FTIR, BET, UV-Vis DRS and FESEM. The role of tea waste extract in formation of TiO₂ was tested to degrade 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) under visible light irradiation.  The best photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-DCP was achieved using TiO₂-1 (85%) compared with TiO₂-3 (80%), TiO₂-5 (77%) and P25 (71%). Furthermore, the optimum volume of tea waste extract was 1 mL and the results show that increasing volume of tea extract increased the band gap and crystallite size, while the surface area was decreased. The role of tea waste extract as capping agent in synthesis of TiO₂ contributed significantly to the good photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-DCP.