Carbon-based TiO2-x heterostructure nanocomposites for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of dye molecules

Application of brown titanium dioxide (TiO_2-x) and its modified composite forms in the photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants in the environment is a promising way to provide solutions for environmental redemption. Herein, we report the synthesis of effective and stable TiO_2-x nanoparticles with g-C₃N₄, RGO, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using a simple hydrothermal method. Among all the as-synthesized samples, excellent photocatalytic degradation activity was observed for RGO-TiO_2-x nanocomposite with high rate constants of 0.075 min^?1_, 0.083 min^?1 and 0.093 min^?1 for methylene blue, rhodamine-B, and rosebengal dyes under UV–Visible light irradiation, respectively. The altered bandgap (1.8 eV) and the large surface area of RGO-TiO_2-x nanocomposite impacts on both absorption of visible light and efficiency of photogenerated charge electron (e^?)/hole (h⁺) pair separation. This resulted in enhanced photocatalytic property of carbon-based TiO_2-x nanocomposites. A systematic study on the influence of different carbon nanostructures on the photocatalytic activity of brown TiO_2-x is carried out.     

Optimization study of sodium hydroxide consumption in the coal demineralization process

Demineralization study on flotation tailings coal with an objective to minimize the consumption of sodium hydroxide was explored. In the present work, the effect of process parameters such as pulp density (PD) of coal slurry, alkali (NaOH) concentration and reaction temperature on the ash content of product coal and NaOH consumption was investigated. Optimum process conditions were selected based on the minimum loss of NaOH and maximum PD (so that reactor volume required per ton of raw coal treatment can be minimized) along with the desired level of ash reduction. Experimental results shows that the consumption of sodium (Na) per unit ash removal increases with increase in alkali concentration for a given PD and at the same time decreases with increase in PD for a given alkali concentration. Furthermore, it was observed that the amount of Na consumption per unit ash removal is directly proportional to the reaction temperature.     

Study on the DC supply and charging effect on the growth of carbon nanotubes and their electrochemical properties

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Preparation of chirality-defined few-walled CNT (FWCNT) is one of the major challenges in the carbon nanotube (CNT) fields. In the last two...     

Upgrading Coal Washery Rejects Through Caustic-acid Leaching

Physical beneficiation of West Bokaro run-of-mine coal gives 15% ash clean coal with 38% yield. Further lowering the ash content in clean coal may cause significant yield loss as well as generation of enormous quantities of middling and reject coals, which are low value material. West Bokaro coal washery of Tata Steel Ltd produces 0.7 million tons of reject coal annually. This work deals with the effect of caustic-acid leaching route for producing 19.7% ash clean coal with more than 40% yield from the rejects with 60% ash. The clean coal obtained in this process can be utilized in thermal power stations and cement industries.