Dataset of chemical, structural and optical characterization of black mineral sand

The chemical, structural and optical properties of each fraction obtained from black mineral sand was characterized with thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and UV-Vis spectroscopies techniques.
The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out using TGA /DSC Star System Mettler Toledo analyzer, for observing the thermal behavior. Previously to TGA/DSC scans, the samples were degasified at 100°C during 60 min at 20 cm3 min-1 in nitrogen purge stream and the analysis were performed since 25°C to 1000°C at a heating rate of 5°C min-1 under 100 cm3 min-1 in flowing air (the TGA/DSC curves were normalized regarding the sample weight).
The functional groups of the substrates adsorbed to the catalyst were identified with a FT-IR 8400S spectrophotometer (Shimadzu) at room temperature within the range of 4000-400 cm-1.
The UV reflectance of the solid were analyzed with an UV/Vis spectrophotometer (Shimadzu UV-2600) with an integrating sphere for acquisition of the diffuse reflectance spectra (BaSO4 was used as reference). With this information, the Tauc plots were used to estimate the material band-gap energy (Eg), by extrapolation of the straight line from the absorption curve to the abscissa.