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PAMUKKALE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES-PAMUKKALE UNIVERSITESI MUHENDISLIK BILIMLERI DERGISI, vol.2025, pp.1-7, 2025 (ESCI)
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of synthetic dyes in industrial wastewater presents significant environmental challenges because of the toxicity and lack of effectiveness of conventional treatment methods. Methyl red, a widely used azo dye, is particularly problematic due to its high chemical stability. In this study, manganese tungstate (MnWO₄) was synthesized using a coprecipitation method and evaluated for its photocatalytic activity in methyl red degradation through UV-C exposure. The synthesized MnWO₄ was characterized using several techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM analysis revealed the formation of needle-like, nanometer-sized MnWO₄ particles with high aspect ratios, which are expected to enhance photocatalytic efficiency. XRD confirmed the development of a highly crystalline pure MnWO₄ phase, and FTIR spectra showed characteristic peaks corresponding to Mn–O and W–O bonds. The UV-DRS results revealed that the material possesses a direct band gap of 3.18 eV, suitable for UV-C light absorption. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that MnWO₄ effectively degraded methyl red, with the removal efficiency reaching nearly 60% after 180 minutes of irradiation. These findings suggest that MnWO₄ is a promising photocatalyst for environmental remediation, offering a simple, costeffective solution for dye degradation in wastewater.