LAUSR

An aerochitin–titania (TiO2) composite was successfully synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption isotherms. The photocatalytic activity of the composite was investigated on the degradation of the model organic pollutant, methylene blue (MB) dye, under UV irradiation. The aerochitin–TiO2 composite showed excellent adsorptive and photocatalytic activity with a degradation degree of 98% for MB. The first-order rate constants for the photodegradation MB by TiO2 nanoparticles and aerochitin–TiO2 composite were found to be (3.49 ± 0.04) × 10−3 and (1.82 ± 0.02) × 10−2min−1. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 135, 45908.