Characterization and stability of TiO₂ nanoparticles in industrial dye stuff effluent

Stability studies were conducted in different solutions (deionized water (DI), NaCl, CaCl₂, and MgCl₂) at different pH. Agglomeration and zeta potential were influenced by ionic strength, type of electrolyte, and the presence of dye stuff. The Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory was used to analyze the stability and/or agglomeration of the nanoparticles in the different solutions. Repulsive or attractive forces stipulated by the DLVO theory were used to quantitatively discuss the results. The increase in ionic strength increased agglomeration which was linked to pH_pzc, as there were minimal electrostatic repulsions at the pzc, yet the attractive van der Waals forces were dominant. Addition of the dye stuff significantly decreased the agglomeration as the dye stuff changed the overall zeta potential of TiO₂ nanoparticles to negative across the entire pH which improved stability as there were particle–particle repulsions. Monovalent and divalent cations were compared and Ca²⁺ increased the mean diameter of nanoparticles as it effectively decreased the EDL of the nanoparticles, thus enhancing agglomeration. The DLVO theory was successful at explaining, in terms of the interaction energies between nanoparticles, the phenomena that caused either agglomeration or stability of the as-synthesized TiO₂ nanoparticles in the different solutions.