Synergistic effect of metal-doped TiO₂/AC for efficient visible light driven cationic dye degradation

An efficient photocatalyst iron (Fe) and silver (Ag) doped titanium dioxides (TiO2) activated carbon (AC) was synthesized using ultrasound assisted and sol–gel methods, respectively, for effective degradation of rhodamine B (Rh B). After carbonization of date seeds, AC was obtained to get composite with TiO₂ which was further doped with Fe and Ag to enhanced the photoactivity. Comprehensive techniques such as energy dispersive X-ray, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy were used to evaluate the crystallinity, structural morphology, and chemical behavior of synthesized material. The experimental results showed that Ag-doped TiO₂/AC was more effective in degradation of Rh B dye using (0.1 g weight of photocatalyst, 50 µmol concentration of Rh B, acidic pH, 150 min irradiation time) than Fe-doped TiO₂/AC. Rh B was degraded by using Fe-doped TiO₂/AC and Ag-doped TiO₂/AC with percentage degradation efficiencies of 68.8 % and 87.25 % respectively. Likely, Ag-doped TiO₂/AC exhibited enhanced stability with excellent structural preservation until the last cycle went up to 80.5 % than Fe-doped TiO₂/AC. It was found that operating cost of the whole experimental set-up and material synthesis was more economic. The kinetic statistics of the photocatalysts were the best fit for first order and regeneration passed through five consecutive reaction cycles under optimized conditions as used for fresh catalysts. This study highlights the prospective advance in environmental remediation using metal-doped TiO₂/AC.