Synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of emerging contaminants

•Correlation between calcination temperature and properties of the obtained photocatalyst.•High calcination temperatures do not produce effective photocatalysts for the proposed synthesis method.•The addition of hydrogen peroxide enabled the production of more efficient photocatalysts. The study investigates the impact of calcination temperature and the addition of H2O2 on the properties of TiO2 synthesized through the sol–gel method. The photoactivity of TiO2 in degrading Paracetamol revealed that the optimal calcination temperature was identified as 350 °C, attributed to a smaller crystallite size, higher surface area, and the anatase phase. Adding H2O2 during TiO2 preparation influenced the porous structure and photoactivity. Transmission electron microscopy revealed nanoparticles with average sizes of 12 ± 3 nm. TiO2 prepared with H2O2 showed improved photoactivity, possibly due to surface modifications, removing 98 % of Paracetamol. The addition of scavengers influenced the degradation efficiency, confirming the involvement of reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals. In summary, the study provides valuable insights into the influence of calcination temperature and H2O2 addition on the properties and photoactivity of TiO2, emphasizing the importance of optimal synthesis conditions for enhanced performance in environmental remediation applications.