Research Article
Efficient Photocatalytic Rhodamine B Dye Degradation Using Activated Carbon-Based TiO2 Photocatalyst
Sagar Kande*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
62-71
Received:
28 July 2026
Accepted:
10 August 2026
Published:
27 August 2026
Abstract: Environmental contamination caused by synthetic dye effluents from the textile, paper, and printing industries poses severe ecological threats. In this work, a highly efficient activated carbon-based titanium dioxide (AC-TiO2) composite photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via a modified sol-gel route for the targeted degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under simulated solar irradiation. The synthesized materials were comprehensively characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. XRD confirmed the formation of highly crystalline anatase-phase TiO2, while BET analysis revealed that the integration of activated carbon drastically enhanced the specific surface area from 52.4 m2/g (pure TiO2) to 284.7 m2/g (AC-TiO2). UV-Vis DRS displayed a prominent red shift in the absorption edge of the composite, effectively narrowing the band gap energy from 3.20 eV to 2.85 eV, enhancing light absorption in the visible range. Photocatalytic performance evaluation showed that the AC-TiO2 composite achieved a superior RhB degradation efficiency of 98.5% within 60 minutes of irradiation, significantly outperforming benchmark Aeroxide P25 (71.2%) and pure TiO2 (63.4%). Kinetic analysis revealed that the degradation followed a pseudo-first-order mechanism, with a rate constant (k = 0.0681 min⁻1) that is ~ 4.3 times higher than pristine TiO2. The synergistic mechanism is attributed to the dual role of activated carbon as an exceptional adsorptive sink and an electron trapping mediator that effectively retards the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole (e⁻/h⁺) pairs. Furthermore, scavenger experiments confirmed that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide radical anions (•O2⁻) acted as the dominant reactive oxygen species driving the mineralisation process. The composite displayed excellent reusability, maintaining a 92.1% degradation efficiency after five consecutive cycles, demonstrating high stability. This study highlights the potential of AC-TiO2 composites as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and highly viable candidate for high-throughput industrial wastewater remediation.
Abstract: Environmental contamination caused by synthetic dye effluents from the textile, paper, and printing industries poses severe ecological threats. In this work, a highly efficient activated carbon-based titanium dioxide (AC-TiO2) composite photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via a modified sol-gel route for the targeted degradation of Rhodamine...
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Research Article
Assessment of Drinking Water Pollution in the Department of Dar Al-Fawakeh
Balkis Mahamoud Adam,
Ahmed Mohammed Mohagir*,
Nde Divine Bup
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 4, August 2026
Pages:
72-84
Received:
23 July 2026
Accepted:
13 August 2026
Published:
18 September 2026
Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of drinking water in the Department of Dar Al-Fawakeh through its physical, chemical and biological characteristics, as well as to estimate the concentration of some heavy elements during September 2024. The pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), temperature (TºC), turbidity (TNU), major cations (calcium Ca2⁺, magnesium Mg2⁺, sodium Na+, potassium K+ and ammonium NH4+), major anions (phosphate PO4-3, sulfate SO42-, nitrate NO3-, bicarbonate HCO3⁻, chloride Cl⁻, and fluoride F⁻) were measured, along with some heavy metals (lead Pb, iron Fe, copper Cu, and zinc Zn) from well water samples taken from sixteen (16) identified locations in the study area of Dar Al-Fawakeh Department, namely: Amzwair Madamqun, Makalan, Kelkite, Arbouguine, Ardebe, Foutoulkan, Omol (1), Mata, Djabal-annour, Hadjer-Madine, Amzwair Acimenti, Kokar, Tiktike, Migneri, Omol (2), and Am zwair Arrouhal. The samples were analyzed and the results were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO), European Union (EU) and the Chadian drinking water standards (C.S). The study revealed very high turbidity values (95, 91, 89.03, and 21.87 NTU) in the wells of Makalan, Madamqun, Kelkite, and Foutoulkan, respectively. These values exceeded the permissible turbidity limit (5 NTU) set by the WHO and the EU. The cation analysis revealed varying concentrations of calcium ions (Ca2⁺), including the value180.8 mg/L that exceeding the Chadian standard (100 mg/L). Ammonium ions (NH4+) reached a concentration of 1.02 mg/L, exceeding the WHO limit (0.5 mg/L). The anion analysis also showed high levels of bicarbonate (605.12 mg/L), phosphate (1.53 mg/L), and fluoride (2.67 mg/L). All these anions exceeded the WHO and Chadian standards, which are 200, 0.1 and 0.7 mg/L respectively. The results of heavy metal analyses showed high levels of lead (0.61 mg/L) and iron (1.03 mg/L) in the Tiktike and Am zwair Ar-rohal wells, respectively. These levels exceeded the permissible limits for lead (0.01 mg/L) and iron (0.3 mg/L) according to WHO) and Chadian standards (0.05 mg/L). Microbiological analyses also confirmed very high levels of microbiological contamination exceeding the WHO limits. Turbidity is an indicator of poor water quality and provides a fertile environment for microbial growth and the development of gastrointestinal diseases (diarrhea, dysentery, cholera) and other parasitic infections. Fluoride exposure leads to fluorosis (reddened teeth), skeletal fluorosis, osteoporosis in children and adults, and bone deformities, particularly in the legs, knees, and hips. Even small amounts of lead can cause cancer, kidney and nervous system inflammation, brain damage, anemia, severe constipation, vomiting, and general neurological disorders, headaches, paralysis, coma, impaired cognitive function, reduced intelligence, and aggressive behavior. These analyses indicate that most of the water in these wells is contaminated and unfit for drinking, negatively impacting the health of population and consequently their social and economic well-being.
Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of drinking water in the Department of Dar Al-Fawakeh through its physical, chemical and biological characteristics, as well as to estimate the concentration of some heavy elements during September 2024. The pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), temperature (TºC), turbidity ...
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