Aref Shokri - payamenoor university, Department of chemistry
Safoora Krimi - Department of chemical engineering, Dezful university, Iran

In this study, the TiO۲ nanoparticles were supported on Y-type zeolite as a new photocatalyst and used to degrade Acid Red ۱۸ in aqueous media. The nano photocatalyst was synthesized by coprecipitation procedure and characterized by Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The central composite design (CCD) was employed for experimental design. The effect of operative variables including contact time, photocatalyst dosage and pH were investigated. The ANOVA (analysis of variance) studies displays the second-order regression model and a high determination coefficient value (R۲ = ۰.۹۹۵۳, R۲pred = ۰.۹۶۴۲, R۲adj = ۰.۹۹۱۰) for the destruction of AR۱۸ was obtained. The contour plots were applied to study the shares of each variable and their interactions on the degradation of AR۱۸. The optimal circumstances predicted by the model were as the following: the catalyst concentration at ۰.۸۸g/L, pH at ۶.۵, and contact time in ۱۲۵ min. In this situation, the predicted and actual dye removal were ۹۸.۵% and ۹۶.۳%, respectively. The removal of COD (chemical oxygen demand) after ۱۲۵ min was ۵۳% indicating, the notable performance of photocatalyst in mineralization of AR۱۸.

TiO۲/Zeolite photocatalyst, Y-type zeolite, Acid Red ۱۸, Central composite design, Co-precipitation method