Abstract
This study novelty is that new photo catalyst prepared from sustainability low cost precursors. Dark red color hydrogel composites have been easily prepared from gelatin biopolymer using a simple sol-gel method. Gelatin doped by cobalt chloride, and silver nanoparticles (SNPs) in the presence of traces amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant and calcium chloride. Water-insoluble Gelatin composites are thermally stable photocatalysts for the degradation of toxic anionic acid red 8 dye. Promising photodynamic activity confirmed by fluorescence emission at λ(max) 650 nm. Optical absorption in Vis. light enhanced photo catalytic activity. Silver nanoparticles enhanced crystallinity, and improved optical properties and porosity. Dopants by CoCl(2) and silver nanoparticles increased band gap of gelatin composites from (1.82 to 1.95) indicating interfacial charge separation. Low band gaps improved photo catalytic activity. Optical band gaps (Eg) lower than 2.0 eV indicates high catalytic activity in the photo degradation acid red 8 dye using Vis. light, wavelength 650 nm. Percent removal efficiency (%Re) of the dye at 500 ppm initial concentration, pH 1, contact time 30 min., and 0.20 g L(-1) dose photo catalyst reached 95%. pH not affects removal efficiency. So, gelatin composites removed AR8 dye by photodegradation mechanism rather than adsorption due to photodynamic activity. Kinetics of photodegradation followed pseudo first order kinetic with rate constant k(1) 5.13 × 10(-2) min.(-1) Good electrical conductivity and magnetic properties (effective magnetic moment (µ(eff) 4.11 B.M) improved dye degradation into simple inorganic species. Nutrients NH(4)(+), and NO(3)(-) degradation products recovered by using alumina silicate clay via a cation exchange mechanism.