Reactive dye degradation by combined Fe(III)/TiO2 catalyst and ultrasonic irradiation: Effect of Fe(III) loading and calcination temperature

The development of Fe(III)/TiO2 catalysts for sonocatalytic degradation of Reactive Blue 4 (RB4) dye in water was carried out using sol–gel method. Their surface morphology, phase transformation and surface characteristics were studied using SEM, XRD and surface analyzer, respectively. Phase transformation from amorphous to anatase occurred at 500 °C and transformation of anatase to rutile phase occurred at 700 °C. Complete rutile phase was formed at 900 °C with corresponding increase in the particle size. Increasing in Fe(III) loading led to a reduction in the anatase phase and with the formation of weaker and broader of diffraction peaks. Surface morphology of the prepared catalyst was clearly observed with increasing calcination temperature. Surface area of the prepared catalyst decreased with increasing calcination temperature or increasing Fe(III) loading. The combination of 0.4 mol% of Fe(III)/TiO2 with ultrasonic irradiation gave the highest sonocatalytic activity in the removal of RB4 from the aqueous solution. On the other hand, the presence of even small amount of rutile inhibited the catalytic activity of catalyst. 1.5 g/L was the optimum amount of catalyst that led to the highest sonocatalytic degradation of RB4 with an efficiency of 90%. Aeration significantly accelerated the reaction rate. Higher removal at 96% could be achieved with the combination of 0.4Fe(III)/TiO2 and aeration under ultrasonic irradiation.

Research highlights
► Fe (III)/TiO2 catalysts for sonocatalytic degradation of Reactive Blue 4 dye.
► SEM, XRD and surface analyses.
► Anatase phase formed at 500 °C and transformed into rutile at 700 °C.
► Increasing Fe (III) loading led to a reduction in the anatase phase.
► 0.4 mol % of Fe (III)/TiO2 gave the highest sonocatalytic activity.