Removal of Safranin O from Water by UV/TiO2/IO3− Advanced Oxidation Process: Parametric Study and Impact of Inorganic Ions and Humic Acid

Abstract

In the present paper, the influence of iodate (IO3−) ions on the photocatalytic process using titanium dioxide (UV/TiO2) was systematically examined. The innovative studied system (UV/TiO2/IO3−) demonstrated high performance in the elimination of safranin O (SO), a model dye, from water due to the implication of iodine radicals (IO3•, IO2•, IO•, etc.). The degradation was assessed by monitoring the change in initial substrate concentration (5–30 mg∙L−1), TiO2 loading (0.01–3 g∙L−1), IO3− concentration, liquid temperature, and initial pH. Further enhancement of oxyanion amount was beneficial for the initial rate of degradation (r0) over the range 0.1–50 mM, such that r0 rose from 0.724 to 1.12 mg∙L−1∙min−1. However, a concentration of 100 mM IO3− slowed the removal kinetics. Low pH values were found to be favorable for pollutant removal. Furthermore, a variety of inorganic and organic substances was employed to clarify the effect of the UV/TiO2/IO3− process in natural waters. The findings revealed a negative impact of chloride excess in seawater and a decline in SO degradation in mineral water as a result of HCO3− presence at more than 1 mM. At high concentrations of natural organic matter, the heterogeneity and the strong adsorption of humic acid on the TiO2 surface were found to be harmful for SO decay.