NANOCOMPOSITES BASED ON BENTONITE/TiO2 AND CHLOROPHYLL FROM NATURAL EXTRACTS

Purpose: Various academic studies have focused on the development of advanced techniques that combine sustainability with technological innovation. Such studies are essential for wastewater treatment because pollution is a serious issue that affects the whole society. This study aimed to synthesize and to characterize a nanocomposite consisting of the clay mineral bentonite doped with titania and functionalized with chlorophyll. Methods: Chlorophyll was extracted from the leaves of Terminalia catappa  by using methanol as solvent. Next, 4 mL of a solution containing chlorophyll, 2 g of bentonite, 40 mL of ethanol , 0.2 mL of acetic acid, and 1 mL of titanium(IV) isopropoxide was left under magnetic stirring for 24 hours. Results: X-Ray diffraction evidenced chlorophyll and TiO 2 incorporation into bentonite: pure bentonite displays basal spacing of 14.24 A, whereas the resulting material BenTiClo has basal spacing of 14.71 A. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy revealed altered absorption after chlorophyll insertion: whereas TiO 2 has maximum absorption at 260 nm, chlorophyll insertion gives maximum absorbance at 657.87 nm. Conclusion : The semiconductor (TiO 2 ) has its absorption modified after insertion of chlorophyll in the material BenTiClo.