Insight into the TiO2nanostructures stabilized with cashew tree gum to remove emerging contaminants as a green technology

Searching for technologies to combat emerging pollutants such as dyes and pharmaceuticals is arduous. Plant polysaccharides have been used to synthesize photocatalysts as strategies for green technology. The present study aimed to synthesize TiO2nanostructure photocatalytic using cashew tree gum. Structural, morphological, and optical characterization was carried out to verify the gum's effect on the growth of nanostructures. Photocatalytic tests were performed with Methylene dye (MB) and Ibuprofen (IBP) pollutants under UV irradiation. Structural characterization demonstrated the formation of anatase-type TiO2, with a band gap at 3.15 eV. Photocatalytic assays using CGT showed that the material was more efficient in removing MB (43.17 %) when compared to IBP (29.86 %). In addition, scavenger studies indicated that electrons are the species involved in dye degradation. Therefore, the results are promising for using TiO2nanoparticles obtained with gum to remove pollutants.