Composite nanofibers/water photosplitting and photocatalytic degradation of dairy effluent

Photocatalytic removal of Dairy effluent (DE) was studied by using TiO2-GeO2 and TiO2-CdO nanofibers (NFs), produced by electrospinning method. These NFs were characterized by SEM, TEM and XRD studies. The TiO2-GeO2 and TiO2-CdO NFs were smooth and continuous, with an average diameter of about 273 nm and 256 nm respectively, and held their nanofibrous morphology even after more than 9 h of photocatalytic removal of DE under visible light irradiation. TiO2-GeO2 and TiO2-CdO NFs were effective materials for removal of DE, even after many runs and cycles. TiO2-GeO2 and TiO2-CdO NFs showed a maximum removal of 65% and 75%, respectively, after 3 h. The TiO2-GeO2 and TiO2-CdO NFs also showed excellent results in hydrogen release.