Preparation and characterization of coconut shell activated carbon supported titanium dioxide nanocomposite (CSAC-P-TiO2NC)

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There is an ever-increasing need in the engineering and development of cost-effective and efficient carbon decorated nano-composites due to highly expensive challenges from activated carbon and its affordability in the developing region of the world. This study was posed to investigate the preparation and characterization of coconut shell activated carbon decorated titanium dioxide nanocomposites (CSAC-P-TiO 2 -NC). The physicochemical characterization of the developed material, as revealed from the results, showed the optimum pH to be 6.57, pHpzc value of 4.8, and 5.3 % ash content. Spectroscopic data revealed thermal stability of the nanocomposite up to 900 °C without significant loss in weight. Availability of a wide surface area was obtained as revealed by the BET results of 85.130 m 2 /g. FTIR result revealed the various functional groups present in the nanocomposite with the characteristic peak of Ti-O stretch at 799 cm -1 . XRD patterns further confirmed the anatase phase of titanium dioxide crystalline mesoporous structure of the nanocomposite, having a characteristic diffraction peak at 2θ = 25.3 °. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed the morphological view of the nanostructure, containing numerous wide pore spaces that were observed on its surface. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed a fine anatase crystalline mesoporous structure of the titanium dioxide nanocomposites with spherical shape and 55-60 nm size. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) showed a high thermal stability up to 900 °C. XPS measurement confirms the successful formation of carbon decorated CSAC-P-TiO 2 -NC containing Titanium-based oxide with lattice oxygen and carbon showing characteristic binding energies for carbon (284.8 eV and 289.2 eV), oxygen (530.6 eV), and titanium (459.4 eV and 465.0 eV). The physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses demonstrated that titanium dioxide nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into the phosphoric acid developed coconut shell activated carbon to yield the carbon-based decorated titanium dioxide nanocomposite. These characteristics properties revealed the potential of CSAC-P-TiO 2 -NC as a promising and sustainable low-cost potential adsorbent and photocatalyst recommended for pollutant removal for wastewater remediation. The highlights from this article are: • Development of sustainable and eco-friendly coconut shell activated carbon decorated titanium dioxide nanocomposites (CSAC-P-TiO 2 -NC) via hydrothermal technique • Phosphoric acid activation improved and enhanced the porosity and surface area of the carbon decorated titanium nanocomposites, determined by BET, promoting TiO 2 dispersion • Successful integration of TiO 2 onto CSAC matrix was confirmed by spectroscopic, structural, and morphological analyses (XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, HR-TEM and XPS) Graphical Abstract of CSAC-P-TiO 2 -NC

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