Reactive yellow 161 decolorization by TiO2/porous boron nitridenanosheet composites in cotton dyeing effluent

Titanium dioxide/porous boron nitride nanosheet composites (TiO2/P-BNNSs) were prepared in this study to photo decolorize Reactive Yellow 161 (RY161) in the simulated cotton dyeing effluent, where alkaline and inorganic salts were presented. The prepared TiO2/P-BNNSs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photocatalytic performance of TiO2/P-BNNSs was also compared with that of synthesized TiO2 and commercial TiO2 (P25). Although the addition of alkaline and inorganic salts negatively influenced the RY161 decolorization, the RY161 decolorization efficiency remained the highest in the simulated systems (unhydrolyzed and hydrolyzed systems) with the application of TiO2/P-BNNSs. The excellent reusability of TiO2/P-BNNSs was also demonstrated after five successive cycles of use in the simulated cotton dyeing effluent, during which the RY161 decolorization percentage remained at 87%-90% in the unhydrolyzed system and at 100% in the hydrolyzed system. The excellent RY161 decolorization by TiO2/P-BNNSs and their exceptional reusability suggest TiO2/P-BNNSs are potential candidates for practical dye effluent treatment.