Environmentally friendly decolorization of textile dye C.I. yellow 28 in water by Bi2−x(Lu, Er)xO3 nanoparticles

Bi2−x(Lu, Er)xO3 nanoparticle is proposed as a photocatalyst to decolorize C.I. Basic Yellow 28 (BY28) dye solution from water under visible light irradiation. By applying un-doped Bi2O3 and 0.1% Lu3+, Er3+ co-doped Bi2O3, the decolorization efficiency increases from 48.52 to 95.62% after 180 min of irradiation, while by using 0.5% Lu3+, Er3+ co-doped Bi2O3, and it decreases from 95.62 to 56.52%. The best decolorization efficiency of 100% is obtained in 5 mg/l BY28 with 1 g/l photocatalyst concentration after 180 min. Moreover, the effect of initial BY28 concentration (5, 10, 15, 20, 35 mg/l) on decolorization efficiency is investigated in the presence of 1 g/l of 0.1% Lu3+, Er3+ co-doped Bi2O3 nanoparticles. The increase in the initial dye concentration reduces the decolorization efficiency from 100 (5) to 91.43% (35 mg/l). The highest decolorization efficiency is obtained at 1 g/l photocatalyst concentration (97.62%).