Synthesis of EDTA-modified bifunctional TiO2 and it is use for adsorption of metal ions and photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds

In this thesis, anatase TiO2 as crystal and amorphous phases, doped with EDTA were synthesized by reflux and sol-gel method, respectively. Simultaneous adsorption of Cu2+ ions in aqueous media and photocatalytic degradation of Disperse Red 65 using ''bifunctional'' material synthesis was aimed. Also this synthesized bifunctional material, was used as an adsorbent material to separate and concentrate Cu2+ ions at low concentration in different matrix media by solid phase extraction (SPE). The synthesized bifunctional (adsorbent-SPE/photocatalyst) materials were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM-EDX, DLS for particle size distribution, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, FTIR and zeta potential measurements. Both the crystal and the amorphous TiO2 are doped with EDTA, the adsorption rate and adsorption capacity of Cu2+ ions are increased. Adsorption conditions were optimized against to pH, amount of adsorbent, contact time, concentration of Cu2+ ions, organic and inorganic matrix effects and type of elution solution and concentration of the amorphous EDTA-TiO2.10 mg/L Cu2+ ions in the different matrix solutions adsorbed over 90% in a short time of 5 min on the amorphous EDTA-TiO2. When the anatase or amorphous EDTA-TiO2, media without Cu2+ showed low photocatalytic activity, the addition of Cu2+ ions to the aqueous medium increased the photocatalytic activity. In the presence of Cu2+ ions, amorphous EDTA-TiO2 degraded 100% of the Disperse Red 65 dye under UV light in 4 hours, and about 92% under visible light in 8 hours, according to UV/Vis spectrophotometric and TOC analysis.