Predicting the photocatalytic performance of metal/metal oxide coupled TiO2 particles using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

This study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic performance of different metal/metal oxide coupled TiO2 particles, namely Ag-TiO2, Cd-TiO2, Cr-TiO2, Cu-TiO2, Mn-TiO2, and Ni-TiO2, which were reused after the heavy metal removal under UV light irradiation. The photocatalytic performance of the metal/metal oxide coupled-TiO2 particles was optimized by modifying the synthesis parameters by employing Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Ag-TiO2 particles demonstrated the best photocatalytic performance in Rhodamine B (RhB) dye removal with a photodegradation efficiency of 98.4% at 60 min. The degradation of RhB by Ag-TiO2 followed pseudo-second-order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.1011 ppm−1min−1. Other metal/metal oxide coupled-TiO2 particles exhibited 1st order kinetic reaction. The RSM analysis inferred that the optimum synthesis parameters for Ag-TiO2 particles to achieve optimum photodegradation efficiency of RhB dye were 53 ppm of Ag (I) ion solution, UV radiation for 40 min, and annealing temperature of 511 °C under reducing atmosphere. •This study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic performance of different metal/metal oxide coupled TiO2 particles.•This coupled TiO2 particles demonstrated the best photocatalytic performance in Rhodamine B (RhB) dye removal.•This coupled TiO2 particles demonstrated photodegradation efficiency of 98.4% at 60 min.•The degradation of RhB by Ag-TiO2 followed pseudo-second-order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.1011 ppm−1min−1.•RSM achieved optimum photodegradation efficiency of RhB dye were 53 ppm of Ag (I) ion solution.