Photocatalytic degradation of hazardous Ponceau-S dye from industrial wastewater using nanosized niobium pentoxide with carbon

► Nanosized semiconductor Nb2O5/CAC was highly more efficient to remove the Ponceau-S dye. ► Excellent Ponceau-S dye removal 86.2% due to significant photocatalytic degradation. ► Photodegradation showed TOC and BOD values 78.95% and 86.5%. ► Modified approach of wastewater treatment is a good basis to develop high efficiency removal of dye.