Sunlight-irradiated bismuth titanate nanoparticles mediated degradation of methylene blue—Ecological perspectives
Arumugam Ganeshkumar, Sivaraj Durairaj, Kalimuthu Vijayalakshmi, Anbazhagan Vinothkannan, Piliyan Raju, Soundaraj Dineshkumar, P. Santhanam, Vaikundamoorthy Ramalingam, R. Rajaram
Abstract
We synthesized bismuth titanate nanoparticles using a facile sol–gel hydrothermal technique. The synthesized bismuth titanate nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and UV–Vis-diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV DRS). The XRD pattern exhibits the formation of bismuth titanate phase (Bi4Ti3O12). SEM and TEM images confirm the formation of a rod-like structure with some agglomeration. The EDX spectrum of the bismuth titanate reveals the presence of Bi, Ti, and O. Raman spectrum validates the strong interaction between the atoms in the bismuth titanate nanoparticles. The narrow band gap of the bismuth titanate degrades the methylene blue dye under sunlight irradiation. The attenuated degradability of methylene blue might be influenced by photoinduced electron poles. Ecotoxicological studies showed that bismuth titanate reduces the toxicity of methylene blue in all tropical food levels. A significant variation in the growth and chlorophyll ‘a’ level of Chlorella vulgaris was noted upon exposure to BTN-exposed MB-degraded water ([email protected]). Likely growth pattern, root and shoot lengths of O. sativa were noted when exposed to MB and [email protected] in comparison with the control group. Our results highlight the importance of bismuth titanate nanocomposites (BTN) for the degradation of methylene blue.