Cellulose reinforced-TiO₂ photocatalyst coating on acrylic plastic for degradation of reactive dyes

In this study, cellulose reinforced-TiO₂ (C-T) film was coated on acrylic plastic sheet and used for UV photocatalytic degradation of four reactive dyes viz., Reactive Black 5, Reactive Red 11, Reactive Orange 16, and Reactive Red 2 in a falling film reactor (FFR). Slurry comprising cellulose and TiO₂ in suitable weight proportions (5, 10, 15, and 25 wt% cellulose) was prepared and a C-T film was obtained by brush coating on acrylic plastic sheet. The composition yielding adherent film and efficient for the dye degradation was identified. The effect of hydraulic flow rate and solution pH on the stability of the C-T films was also investigated. The photocatalytic coating containing 15 wt% cellulose was found to be adherent and efficient for dye degradation. The photodegradation of the reactive dyes, monitored in terms of decolorization (>80%), and reduction in total organic carbon (TOC) during 5 h followed pseudo first-order kinetics. The mineralization efficiency at 5 h treatment using 15 wt% C-T coating was in the range 75.4–83.3% for all the dyes. On the basis of optical microscopy images, the stability of the C-T films obtained from 15 wt% cellulose was attributed to the interlacing of the cellulose fibers that reinforced the TiO₂ coating.