A highly efficient solar light active iron (III)-doped TIO₂ nano-catalyst for textile wastewater treatment

Iron(III)-doped TiO₂ nano photocatalyst was prepared via a simply modified sol-gel process at ambient conditions. The sample was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra, UV-Vis diffuse reflection spectra (UV-Vis DRS) and vibrating magnetometer. It was found that Fe³⁺ doping at 2 wt.% decreased the crystal size and improved the well-defined nanocrystalline powders with high surface area (47.3 m² g^–1). Compared to the undoped TiO₂, 2 wt.% Fe³⁺-TiO₂ showed red-shifted absorption edge and enhanced absorption in the range from 400 to 800 nm. The charge separation of electron-hole pairs was significantly promoted due to Fe³⁺ doping. In addition, the 2 wt.% Fe³⁺-TiO₂ was paramagnetic in nature at room temperature (RT). Photocatalytic properties of the catalyst were investigated by treatment of textile wastewater under solar light. Complete color removal and 73% of total organic carbon (TOC) removal were successfully achieved.