An efficient nanostructured zirconium modified TiO2 for detoxification of azo dye

Different weight percentage of ZrO2-loaded TiO2 a new catalysts were designed and prepared by sonochemical assisted sol-gel method and utilized for degradation of RO 4 under solar radiation. Highly efficient 5 wt% of ZrO2-loaded TiO2 was characterized and confirmed by XRD, TEM, SEM, EDS, DRS, photoluminescence spectral studies, and BET method. ZrO2-TiO2 was found to be more efficient than virgin TiO2, commercial TiO2-P25, prepared ZrO2, and ZrO2-TiO2 in dark. Furthermore, ZrO2-TiO2 has higher absorption than bare TiO2 in both UV and visible region. The luminescence spectra reveal the suppression of recombination of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs by the ZrO2 loaded on TiO2. ZrO2-TiO2 is found to be more efficient than prepared TiO2 and TiO2-P25 for degradation of RO 4, TB, and AR 27 dyes under solar light. The optimum pH and catalyst loading for efficient removal of dye are found to be 9 and 4 g L−1, respectively.