Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye in aqueous solution by MnTiO3 nanoparticles under sunlight irradiation

Nanophotocatalyst MnTiO₃ powders were synthesized by sol-gel technique and characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as their thermal behavior has been studied by differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses (DTA/TGA). Powders morphology was analyzed by means of Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Effect of various process parameters like amount of photocatalyst, dye concentration, solution pH and irradiation time on the extent of removal of dye were studied in detail. The photo-degradation was relatively higher using lower amount (0.005 g) of semiconductor, reached rate of 75% and 70% after 240 min for mixed MnTiO₃/TiO₂ and pure MnTiO₃ nanocatalysts. The kinetic model of photocatalytic degradation of MB follows pseudo-first-order kinetic with a high correlation coefficient values (R² > 0.95). These results underline the use of effective, low-cost and easily available MnTiO₃ photocatalyst for the decomposition of pollutants to water under natural sunlight.