Photodecolourization of methylene blue by Fe- and Cd-incorporated titania-supported zeolite clinoptilolite

This study aims to increase the photodecolourization efficiency of TiO 2 on methylene blue by preparing TiO 2 supported zeolite clinoptilolite catalysts. To do so, three co-catalysts with different TiO 2 concentrations and metal-incorporated (Fe and Cd) co-catalysts were synthesized. The photocatalytic performances of these prepared catalysts were examined for the photodecolourization of methylene blue solution under UV irradiation, LED irradiation and no irradiation. Overall, all of the catalysts performed under UV irradiation more efficiently, followed by LED irradiation. The effect of titania concentration on decolourization efficiency was investigated by performing a comparative analysis between raw TiO 2 , raw ZC, 20-TiO 2 -ZC, 33-TiO 2 -ZC, 50-TiO 2 -ZC, Fe–TiO 2 -ZC and Cd–TiO 2 -ZC. The metal-incorporated co-catalysts performed better the TiO 2 -ZC co-catalysts, which had higher efficiencies than raw TiO 2 and raw zeolite. The most efficient co-catalyst was Fe–TiO 2 -ZC, which was able to completely photodegrade methylene blue in 30 min under UV light. The optimum photodecolourization conditions were found to be when the pH value, initial dye concentration and catalyst amount were 9, 1 x 10 −6 M and 0.2 g, respectively. Lastly, the catalysts followed first order kinetics. • 20-TiO 2 -ZC, 33-TiO 2 -ZC, 50-TiO 2 -ZC, Fe–TiO 2 -ZC and Cd–TiO 2 -ZC were synthesized. • Metal-incorporated co-catalysts had the highest decolourization rates. • Fe–TiO 2 -ZC achieved 100% decolourization of MB under UV irradiation in 30 min. • The best decolourization conditions were pH 9 and catalyst amount 0.2 g. • The catalysts followed first order kinetics.