Catalytic Reduction of Textile Dyes by N-Doped Ti-Melamine Capped Ag2S Nano Composites

Abstract

Waste water expulsion containing toxic and hazardous ingredients from textile industry is one of the biggest concerns in this modern age. N-doped nano composites as an efficient catalyst are playing a significant role in reducing the toxicity of that textile effluent. N-doped Ti-Mel capped Ag2S NCs (N-Ti-C/Ag2S NCs) and N-doped TiO2 capped Ag2S NCs (TiO2/Ag2S NCs) were synthesized via calcinations at 700°C, whereas Ag2S NCs was prepared by simple hydrothermal treatment process at 120°C and confirmed by FTIR and SEM (EDX). N-Ti-C/Ag2S NCs were applied in presence of reducing agent NaBH4 with a green method to decolorize the textile dyes Levafix Amber RR (LA) and Remazol Blue RR (RB). Moreover, Ag2S NCs, TiO2/Ag2S NCs, NaBH4 and TiO2 were also investigated. Using UV-visible spectroscopy the progress time was measured to decolorize textile dye RB and completed within 3.15 mins, 12.15 mins, 12.15 mins for N-Ti-C/Ag2S NCs, Ag2S NCs and TiO2/Ag2S NCs respectively, while for LA the catalytic reduction taken for the same NCs was 8.15 mins, 12.15 mins and 30.15 mins respectively. N-Ti-C/Ag2S NCs based catalyst afforded excellent catalytic reduction activity in both cases. Interestingly the effect of NaBH4 itself and TiO2 in presence of NaBH4 was less than 5% after 30 mins. Finally, the reusability for Ti-Mel capped Ag2S NCs evaluated up to four cycles.