Photo-catalytic degradation of 2,4-DCP wastewater using MWCNT/TiO2 nano-composite activated by UV and solar light

• Decreased of nano-composite diameter.
• Uniformly distributed MWCNT/TiO2 nano-composite.
• Mixing of TTIP and MWCNT in the new way.
• High activity of this nano-composite under solar irradiation instead of UV irradiation.
• 100% removal after 3 h and 30 min under solar irradiation with this novel nanocomposite.

In this study nano-composite MWCNT/TiO2 as catalyst is synthesized by a modified sol–gel method and photo-catalytic removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) by this nano-composite has been studied in a fluidized bed reactor, which is designed and constructed, under UV and solar irradiation. The effects of important parameters such as: type of catalyst, catalyst composition, pH, initial 2,4-DCP concentration, and time have been investigated on the rate of removal of 2,4-DCP. The concentrations of 2,4-DCP were measured as a function of irradiation time through the UV–vis spectrophotometer. Different analysis method such as PSA, FTIR, XRD, is conducted to characterize the nano-composite. The results showed a significant dependence of the photo-catalytic removal of 2,4-DCP on the functional parameters. The results demonstrated that nano-composite with weight component percent of 60–40 of MWCNT/TiO2 under solar and UV irradiation had the best rate of 2,4-DCP removal. The removal percent of 2,4-DCP with this nano-composite in the ambient temperature, optimum pH of 11 in 120 min period under solar radiation is 87% and under UV radiation is 93%.