One-pot synthesis of zinc titanate nanocomposites with dual adsorption and photocatalytic capabilities for wastewater treatment

The efficient elimination of synthetic dyes from industrial wastewaters continues to be a significant environmental issue. This paper describes one-pot synthesis of zinc titanate nanocomposites exhibiting dual adsorption and photocatalytic properties, achieved using precipitation/calcination and solvothermal techniques from a common precursor solution. Methylene blue (MB), a frequently utilized cationic dye, was chosen as the model contaminant. The zinc titanate composites exhibited significant adsorption capabilities; consistently attaining > 4 mg of MB adsorbed per gram of material for all Zn/Ti ratios within the initial 30 min in the absence of UV light exposure. Composites having a Zn/Ti ratio of 0.5 exhibited superior performance, with Z-0.5c attaining the maximum photocatalytic degradation under UV illumination. Phase analysis indicated that calcination resulted in increased crystallinity, which was associated with improved photocatalytic activity, while solvothermally generated samples preserved nanoscale morphologies that facilitated adsorption. The results underscore the efficacy ofzinc titanate nanocomposites as dual-function materials for wastewater treatment, facilitating fast adsorption and prolonged photocatalytic degradation to enhance dye elimination. This study offers significant insights into the optimization of Zn/Ti ratios and synthesis techniques for improved environmental applications.