Abstract
InVO (4)/TiO (2) composite was synthesized via amalgamation of InVO (4) with TiO (2) (Degussa P-25) powders. Application of the produced composite was evaluated as a catalyst for visible-light photocatalytic degradation of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) in synthetic wastewater solutions. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray microanalyses and nitrogen physisorption. The degradation of 2-CP was affected by solution pH, light intensity, photocatalyst dosage and 2-CP initial concentration. InVO (4)/TiO (2) showed higher photocatalytic degradation of 2-CP as compared with Degussa P-25 TiO (2). Complete degradation of 2-CP was achieved with the InVO (4)/TiO (2) catalyst under optimized conditions (1g/L catalyst with a pollutant concentration of 50mg/L at solution pH 5 and irradiation time of 180min). Comparatively, 2-CP degradation efficiency of 50.5% was achieved with the TiO (2) (Degussa P-25) at the same experimental conditions. The study confirmed that InVO (4)/TiO (2) has high potential for degradation of 2-CP from wastewater under visible-light irradiation.