Efficient photocatalytic removal of safarnin-O dye pollutants from water under sunlight using synthetic bentonite/polyaniline@Ni₂O₃ photocatalyst of enhanced properties

This study involves a synthesis of bentonite/polyaniline composite (BE/PANI) of enhanced physicochemical properties as catalyst support for Ni₂O₃ photocatalyst. The change in the structural properties, morphological features, and optical behavior was addressed utilizing several analytic techniques. The characterization results reflected considerable enhancement in the specific surface area after the integration between bentonite and polyaniline (127 m²/g) and after loading of the campsite by Ni₂O₃ forming bentonite/polyaniline@Ni₂O₃ composite (BE/PANI@Ni₂O₃) (231 m²/g). Additionally, the band gap energy was reduced to 2.41 eV and 1.61 eV for BE/PANI and BE/PANI@Ni₂O₃, respectively, as compared to that of 3.4 eV for pure Ni₂O₃. The photocatalytic removal of safranin-O dye under sunlight exposure using BE/PANI@Ni₂O₃ as catalyst revealed great enhancement in the removal percentages by 63%, 75%, and 72.35% higher than bentonite, polyaniline, and Ni₂O₃, respectively. Five milligrams per liter of safranin-O dye can be completely removed from 100 ml water using 0.05 g of the composite after 90 min. The catalyst also was applied effectively in the removal of safranin-O dye from raw water samples as a realistic application of the synthetic composite. Synthetic BE/PANI@Ni₂O₃ as photocatalyst showed very high stability and can be used seven times as photocatalytic at amazing removal percentages.