In situsurface modification of molybdenum‐doped organic–inorganic hybrid TiO2nanoparticles under hydrothermal conditions and treatment of pharmaceutical effluent

Abstract

Molybdenum‐doped TiO₂ organic–inorganic hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions by in situ surface modification using n‐butylamine. This was carried out at 150°C at autogeneous pressure over 18 h. n‐Butylamine was selected as a surfactant since it produced nanoparticles of the desired size and shape. The products were characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, dynamic light‐scattering spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Chemical oxygen demand was estimated in order to determine the photodegradation efficiency of the molybdenum‐doped TiO₂ hybrid nanoparticles in the treatment of pharmaceutical effluents. It was found that molybdenum‐doped TiO₂ hybrid nanoparticles showed higher photocatalytic efficiency than untreated TiO₂ nanoparticles.