Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology Advances in Environmental Technology 2476-6674 11 2 2025 04 01 Thermal activation and loading of Clay/TiO₂/CTAB composite: physicochemical characterization and adsorption-photodegradation of methyl orange 193 206 1504 10.22104/aet.2025.6993.1920 EN Nohong Nohong Department of Chemistry, Universitas Halu Oleo, Kendari, Indonesia Juneti Tandi Limbong Baratau Department of Chemistry, Universitas Halu Oleo, Kendari, Indonesia Dwiprayogo Wibowo Department of Environmental Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Kendari, Kendari, Indonesia 0000-0003-1546-3385 Faizal Mustapa Marine Science, Institut Teknologi & Bisnis Muhammadiyah Kolaka, Kolaka, Indonesia 0000-0001-5947-6159 Ahmad Zulfan Nickel Research Institute, Universitas Muhammadiyah Kendari, Kendari, Indonesia Maulidiyah Maulidiyah Department of Chemistry, Universitas Halu Oleo, Kendari, Indonesia 0000-0001-5643-9854 Muhammad Nurdin Department of Chemistry, Universitas Halu Oleo, Kendari, Indonesia 0000-0002-6727-9283 Journal Article 2024 07 14 The discharge of textile effluents induces organic pollutants that necessitate attention to ensure environmental sustainability. This study presents eco-synthesis and an enhanced adsorption-photocatalyst over a Clay/TiO2/CTAB composite for photodegradation of an organic dye pollutant (Methyl Orange; MO). Natural clay used in this work was purified via hydrothermal treatment to produce activated clay.  Subsequently, TiO2 was intercalated with CTAB surfactant and combined with clay to obtain the Clay/TiO2/CTAB composite. The material was synthesized via a dispersion and centrifugation process. The presence of TiO2 pillared Clay/CTAB showed important photocatalytic properties and high-adsorption performance for the degradation of the MO compound. The Clay/TiO2/CTAB was found to be the most effective adsorption-photocatalyst when compared using homogeneous material. The natural clay was characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), while Clay/TiO2/CTAB was identified using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The successful formation of the Clay/TiO2/CTAB was indicated by FTIR analysis under the wavenumber shown in the fingerprint region predicting the presence of Al-OH and O-Ti-O elements (450-1000 cm-1), while CTAB was generalized to form amide bonds (1360 cm-1). Confirmation of the XRF data shows Clay contains high SiO2 and Al2O3 with good crystallinity, as well as Clay/TiO2 and Clay/TiO2/CTAB, showing crystallinity patterns of quartz, kaolinite, anatase, rutile, and montmorillonite. The micrographs of the synthesized materials show rough surfaces and non-uniform surfaces with different TiO2 grains widely dispersed on the surface. The adsorption-photocatalyst performance of the Clay/TiO2/CTAB composite was evaluated in three parameters, namely pH optimization, contact time, and degradation ability, showing excellent degradation performance at a pH 5 with 60 minutes contact time with a degradation efficiency of 89.90%. Clay/TiO2/CTAB material influenced the adsorption ability and changed the acidity of the waste to make the treated wastewater environmentally safe. https://aet.irost.ir/article_1504_49b8b4f95f02e055801da3b4f58e28b7.pdf