Efficient removal of organic pollutants by material hybrid based on TiO2 and activated carbon from coffee husks

Nguyen Thi Thu Uyen, Nguyen Thanh Dong, Phan Dinh Khai, Nguyen Anh Thao, Nguyen Viet Hoang, Nguyen Dinh Chien, Pham Tuan Linh, Nguyen Thi Thu Trang
Author affiliations

Authors

  • Nguyen Thi Thu Uyen \(^1\) Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
  • Nguyen Thanh Dong \(^1\) Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
    \(^2\) Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5011-1313
  • Phan Dinh Khai \(^1\) Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
  • Nguyen Anh Thao \(^1\) Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8732-9150
  • Nguyen Viet Hoang \(^1\) Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
    \(^2\) Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9830-8609
  • Nguyen Dinh Chien \(^1\) Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
  • Pham Tuan Linh \(^1\) Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
  • Nguyen Thi Thu Trang \(^1\) Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
    \(^2\) Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5015-082X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15625/2525-2518/22026

Keywords:

adsoprtion, coffee husk, hybrid material, organic pollutants, photocatalysis

Abstract

In this study, hybrid materials composed of TiO2 and activated carbon derived from coffee husks (TiO2-AC) demonstrated high efficiency in removing organic pollutants, including methylene blue (MB), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and trimethoprim (TRI). The activated carbon was produced from coffee production by-products after extracting phenolic compounds and was activated using ZnCl2. The TiO2-AC hybrid materials were synthesized through the solvothermal method. These materials were characterized using various techniques: Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis to determine specific surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to analyze crystal structure, infrared spectroscopy (IR) to identify surface functional groups, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine surface morphology, and zeta potential measurements to assess surface charge. The BET specific surface area of the synthesized materials was 475 m2/g for activated carbon, 88 m2/g for TiO2-AC(1:3), and 48 m2/g for pure TiO2. The adsorption and photocatalytic kinetics of MB, CIP, and TRI degradation were evaluated using the synthesized hybrid materials. The results showed that pH significantly influenced degradation efficiency: the optimal photocatalytic activity for TRI and CIP was observed at pH 7, while MB degradation was most effective at pH 9.

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Published

17-08-2026

How to Cite

Uyen, N. T. T., Dong, N. T., Khai, P. D., Thao, N. A., Hoang, N. V., Chien, N. D., … Trang, N. T. T. (2026). Efficient removal of organic pollutants by material hybrid based on TiO2 and activated carbon from coffee husks. Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology, 64(4), 725–736. https://doi.org/10.15625/2525-2518/22026

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Environment

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