PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF TANNIC ACID ADSORPTION ON SiO2/TiO2 PHOTOCATALYST TO SUPPORT WATER QUALITY PRESERVATION IN AQUATIC TOURISM AREAS

Abstract

Maintaining water quality in aquatic tourism areas, such as rivers and lakes, is vital for ensuring both the environmental sustainability and attractiveness of these destinations. Organic pollutants, such as tannic acid, pose significant challenges to water quality, potentially affecting the overall experience for visitors and the health of local ecosystems. This study investigates the application of SiO₂/TiO₂ photocatalysts as a solution for removing tannic acid, with adsorption playing a crucial role in the photocatalytic process. Adsorption is a key step in the mechanism that enhances the efficiency of tannic acid removal from water, making it an essential process to examine for environmental management in tourism areas. The aim of this research is to analyze the influence of various parameters, including contact time, photocatalyst dosage, tannic acid concentration, and temperature, on the adsorption performance of tannic acid on SiO₂/TiO₂ photocatalysts. The study is designed to optimize these variables to maximize the pollutant removal, contributing to water quality preservation in areas where aquatic tourism thrives. Adsorption measurements were carried out using a Total Organic Compound (TOC) Analyzer to determine the optimum conditions for maximum pollutant removal. The results reveal that the adsorption equilibrium was achieved after 60 minutes of contact time, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 28.042 mg/g. A photocatalyst dosage of 0.1 g/L resulted in an adsorption capacity (q_e) of 26.284 mg/g, while increasing the tannic acid concentration to 40 mg/L enhanced qe to 67.18 mg/g. The highest adsorption capacity (q_max) of 105.263 mg/g was obtained at 20°C.