Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue and Methyl Orange Dyes via Transition Metal-Doped Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Simon Bbumba *

Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda and Department of Science, Faculty of Science and Computing, Ndejje University, P.O. Box 7088, Kampala, Uganda.

Moses Kigozi

Department of Chemistry, Busitema University, P. O. BOX 236, Tororo, Uganda.

Ibrahim Karume

Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Hussein Kisiki Nsamba

Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Chinaecherem Tochukwu Arum

Department of Materials Science and Explosives, Faculty of Science, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, PMB 2109, Kaduna, Nigeria.

Ivan Kiganda

Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Kato Maximillian

Department of Science, Faculty of Science and Computing, Ndejje University, P.O. Box 7088, Kampala, Uganda.

Resty Alexandra Nazziwa

Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

John Ssekatawa

Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Collins Letibo Yikii

Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Muhammad Ntale

Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Herein, we reviewed the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange using titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The nanoparticles normally face challenges due to electron-hole recombination effects and low surface area. Doping with transition metals such as copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) is an alternative way of reducing the electron-hole recombination effects, improves structural and electronic properties but also reduces on the band gap energy below 3.0 eV. Photocatalyst which is an advanced oxidation process (AOP) is used as an alternative to remove both methylene blue and methyl orange dyes. This process produces highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radical, sulphates and superoxide radical which create alternative pathways for the degradation of synthetic dyes to less toxic by-products which are water, hydrochloric acid and carbon dioxide. This review further discusses the synthesis techniques which include chemical vapor deposition, hydrothermal synthesis, sonochemical synthesis, sol-gel method, spray pyrolysis, etc that are commonly used in the preparation of pure and doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Keywords: photocatalysis, titanium dioxide, methylene blue, methyl orange, sol-gel


How to Cite

Bbumba, Simon, Moses Kigozi, Ibrahim Karume, Hussein Kisiki Nsamba, Chinaecherem Tochukwu Arum, Ivan Kiganda, Kato Maximillian, Resty Alexandra Nazziwa, John Ssekatawa, Collins Letibo Yikii, and Muhammad Ntale. 2024. “Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue and Methyl Orange Dyes via Transition Metal-Doped Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles”. Asian Journal of Chemical Sciences 14 (4):17-41. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajocs/2024/v14i4315.