The Cr(VI) removals during dark
adsorption, irradiation, and total removal percentage under variation
of the amount of chitosan were shown in this graph. It was
observed that the adsorption amount of Cr(VI) increased with
increasing amount of chitosan. However, the Cr(VI) removal percentage
during irradiation was slightly different in each condition
(49.88% in average). The enhancement of the photocatalytic efficiency
due to the effect of chitosan had been exploited by previous
work (Nawi et al., 2011). However, its influence was clearly
demonstrated in the TCF from this work. The maximum protonated
amino group (eNH3
þ) which was a functional of the chitosan was
obtained in a higher content of chitosan in TCF, and it enhanced in
adsorbing Cr(VI) onto TCF surface. The photocatalytic reaction was
confined mostly to adsorption capacity of media under illumination.
The enhancement of photocatalytic activity was mainly
attributed to the synergisti