Ruthenium Tris-bypyridine/Zeolite-Y/Titanium Dioxide Nano-Assembly: ‘Ship-in-a-Bottle’ Synthesis and Application in Heterogeneous Photodegradation of 2,4-xylidine

The synthetic route followed in the encapsulation of [Ru(bpy)₃2+ in ZeoliteY is referred to as “ ship-in-a-bottle ” synthesis due to non-extractability of the [Ru(bpy)₃]2+ complex, once encapsulation has taken place within the cages of the zeolite Y. Nanoparticles of TiO₂ was then introduced through TiCl₃ in ethylene glycol mixture under argon, with sintering at 200 ° C. Spectroscopic, surface, and electrochemical characterization confirmed the presence of [Ru(bpy)₃]2+ complex within the cages of zeolite Y, and nanoparticles of TiO ₂ in its cages.

The amount of TiO₂ was varied, and the assembly was tested for its photocata-lytic activity using degradation of 2,4-xylidine as test reaction probe. The decrease in the concentration of xylidine and the corresponding increase in oxalate concentration were monitored through HPLC. A pseudo-first order kinetics was observed in the photodegradation process based on the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism. An inverse correlation was observed between the kinetic rate constant and the obtained Light-Induced Optoacoustic Spectroscopy (LIOAS) frequency maxima.

Enhanced rate of photodegradation observed with the use of new and efficient photocatalyst such as [Ru(bpy)₃]2+TiO₂ co-doped Zeolite Y may pave the way for development of large-scale advanced oxidation processes for other pollutant system.