Combustion synthesis of calcium doped ZnO nanoparticles for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye

ZnO nanoparticles are one of the prominent photocatalysts for environmental applications due to its high redox ability, nontoxic and higher stability. This report explains the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles by a simple solution combustion method using zinc nitrate hexahydrate as an oxidizing agent and incense stick powder as fuel at 400 °C. Several techniques were adopted for the characterization of the obtained product. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows that a lower concentration of fuel gives pure ZnO and a higher concentration of fuel results in calcium doped ZnO with a cubic phase having a crystallite size of 32–28 nm. UV–vis spectrum shows that as the fuel concentration increases, band gap decreases and reaches to 3.33 eV for 3 g of fuel. Spongy networks with many pores wereobserved in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images showed the average particle size of Ca doped ZnO NPs is about 20 nm. Pure and Ca doped ZnO nanoparticles were examined for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under UV light irradiation. The results prove that Ca doped ZnO nanoparticles show good photocatalytic activity.     

Biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Euphorbia milii leaf constituents: Characterization and improved photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye under natural sunlight

A facile biosynthesis route was followed to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Euphorbia milii (E. milii) leaf constituents. The SEM images exhibited presence of spherical ZnO NPs and the corresponding TEM images disclosed monodisperse nature of the ZnO NPs with diameter ranges between 12 and 20 nm. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis revealed that the ZnO NPs have specific surface area of 20.46 m²/g with pore diameter of 2 nm–10 nm and pore volume of 0.908 cm³/g. The EDAX spectrum exemplified the existence of Zn and O elements and non-appearance of impurities that confirmed pristine nature of the ZnO NPs. The XRD pattern indicated crystalline peaks corresponding to hexagonal wurtzite structured ZnO with an average crystallite size of 16.11 nm. The FTIR spectrum displayed strong absorption bands at 512 and 534 cm^?1 related to ZnO. The photocatalytic action of ZnO NPs exhibited noteworthy degradation of methylene blue dye under natural sunlight illumination. The maximum degradation efficiency achieved was 98.17% at an illumination period of 50 min. The reusability study proved considerable photostability of the ZnO NPs during photocatalytic experiments. These findings suggest that the E. milii leaf constituents can be utilized as suitable biological source to synthesis ZnO NPs for photocatalytic applications.     

Facile synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - ZnO nanoparticle photocatalysts with a grain size range of 20–100?nm were prepared via a simple sol–gel method and characterized by...     

Facile synthesis and characterization of Fe2O3 nanoparticles using L-lysine and L-serine for efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye

In this work, Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, abbreviated as OL and OS, were facilely synthesized by the combustion procedure using L-lysine and L-serine as organic fuels, respectively. Also, the OL and OS samples were identified using different instruments such as Raman spectrometer, FT-IR spectrophotometer, UV–Vis spectrophotometer, XRD, HR-TEM, BET surface area, and FE-SEM. The XRD confirmed that the mean grain size of OL and OS samples is 42.23 and 33.16 nm, respectively. The HR-TEM images confirmed that irregular, hexagonal, and spherical shapes, have an average diameter of 39.13 and 34.28 nm, were observed in the OL and OS samples, respectively. The BET surface area of the OL and OS samples is 16.20 and 28.34 m²/g, respectively. Additionally, the OL and OS samples were accomplished for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye in the absence and presence of hydrogen peroxide. The % degradation of 45 mL of 25 mg/L of methylene blue dye in the case of using OL and OS samples in the absence of hydrogen peroxide is 55.23 and 63.64 % after 120 min, respectively. Also, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, the % degradation in the case of using OL and OS samples is 100 % after 35 and 25 min, respectively.     

三维Cu-MOF对亚甲蓝的吸附和光催化降解及其机理

本文报道了[Cu₃(ppda)₃(tib)₂(H₂O)₄]·6H₂O (Cu-MOF)的合成、结构、吸附和光催化降解性能。在Cu-MOF中,1,4-苯二乙酸(H₂ppda)和1,3,5-三(1-咪唑基)苯(tib)配体交替连接Cu离子形成二维层,层与层之间通过trans-ppda^2-相互穿插形成稳定的三维结构。Cu-MOF对亚甲蓝(MB)的催化效率为97%,最高反应速率常数为0.019 7 min^-1。光催化降解机理：在光的激发下,催化剂表面的光生电子和空穴对发生分离,并与O₂、H₂O、H₂O₂反应生成活性物质,将染料降解为CO₂和H₂O。在MB溶液中加入NaCl (200 g·L^-1)后,Cu-MOF的吸附量有所提升(87.23 mg·g^-1),准二级动力学模型和Langmuir等温线模型的实验数据拟合程度较好,该吸附的主要过程为单层化学吸附。     

三维Cu-MOF对亚甲蓝的吸附和光催化降解及其机理

本文报道了[Cu₃(ppda)₃(tib)₂(H₂O)₄]·6H₂O(Cu-MOF)的合成、结构、吸附和光催化降解性能。在Cu-MOF中,1,4-苯二乙酸(H₂ppda)和1,3,5-三(1-咪唑基)苯(tib)配体交替连接Cu离子形成二维层,层与层之间通过trans-ppda^2-相互穿插形成稳定的三维结构。Cu-MOF对亚甲蓝(MB)的催化效率为97%,最高反应速率常数为0.019 7 min^-1。光催化降解机理：在光的激发下,催化剂表面的光生电子和空穴对发生分离,并与O₂、H₂O、H₂O₂反应生成活性物质,将染料降解为CO₂和H₂O。在MB溶液中加入NaCl(200 g·L^-1)后,Cu-MOF的吸附量有所提升(87.23 mg·g     

Preparation of ZnS-Fluoropolymer nanocomposites and its photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

The ZnS particles were immobilized on the surface of poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) mixing methacrylic acid (MAA)-trifluoroethyl acrylate (TFA) copolymer electrospun nanofibers. The PVDF and MAATFA copolymer nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning. Zinc ions were introduced onto the surface of nanofibers by coordinating with the carboxyls of MAA, and then sulfide ions were added to react with zinc ions to form ZnS particles under hydrothermal condition. The size and the amount of ZnS particles increased with the reaction time prolonging. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results reveal that a chemical interaction exists between ZnS and fluoropolymer fibers. The degradation rate of methylene blue in ZnS-fluoropolymer nanocomposite system was considerably higher than in that of ZnS powders system under UV irradiation. There may be an adsorption-migration-photodegradation process during the degradation of methylene blue by using ZnS-fluoropolymer nanocomposites as photocatalyst. The photocatalytic activity of ZnS-fluoropolymer nanocomposites changes indistinctively after 10 times repeating tests.     

Biosynthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using Sargassum horneri extract as catalyst for industrial dye degradation

This study focuses on the green synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using the marine algae extract, Sargassum horneri, as well as the degradation of organic dyes using biosynthesized nanoparticles as catalysts. The phytochemicals of the brown algae Sargassum horneri acted as reducing and capping agents for nanoparticle synthesis. Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the biosynthesized nanoparticles. The green-synthesized SH-AgNPs and SH-AuNPs exhibited high catalytic activity for degradation of organic dyes, such as methylene blue, rhodamine B, and methyl orange. The reduction reactions of dyes are based on pseudo-first-order kinetics.     

Chlorophyll-sensitized phenolic resins for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and synthetic blue wastewater

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - A novel method was proposed to incorporate chlorophyll molecules into the phenolic resins for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and...     

Kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue on titanium dioxide

The first step of the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) on anatase is photocatalytic reduction with subsequent decomposition of the dye itself and its leucobase. At low catalyst concentrations (≤2 g/L), the dye decomposition rate constant increases with increasing anatase concentration. A plateau appears for anatase concentrations above 2 g/L. Under steady-state conditions, the reaction kinetics is described by the Michaelis–Menten equation if the catalyst concentration is significantly greater than the MB concentration, which permits us to determine the kinetic parameters of the degradation process.     

Electrospun Pd-doped ZnO nanofibers for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Pure and Pd-doped ZnO nanofibers were synthesized via an electrospinning technique, in which polyvinylpyrrolidone was used as the fiber template, zinc acetate/palladium chloride as the precursors, and a mixture of ethanol/acid acetate/water at ratio of 8:5:2 (v/v/v) as the co-solvent. The electrospun fibers were calcined at 600 °C in air for 2 h and characterized by various methods. The photocatalytic activity of the pure and Pd-doped ZnO nanofibers was studied through the photodegradation of methylene blue. Comparing to the pure ZnO nanofibers, the Pd-doped catalysts showed a much enhanced photodegradation efficiency. The possible mechanism was also discussed.     

Titanium dioxide sensitization with a biscyanine dye in the photocatalytic reduction of methylene blue

Kinetics and Catalysis - Photosensitive heterostructures containing titanium dioxide and a sensitizer, viz., a cyanine dye with two conjugated chromophores have been obtained. Their absorption...     

ZnO-rich CdS-ZIF-8 catalyst for enhanced visible-light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

CdS-ZIF-8 photocatalyst was prepared by introducing a ZnO-rich zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) during synthesis of CdS by a facile solvothermal method, using ZnO-rich ZIF-8 and cadmium acetate [Cd(Ac)₂] as support and CdS precursor, respectively. The introduction of ZnO-rich ZIF-8 and the photodegradation performance of the catalyst for methylene blue (MB) organic dye were systemically investigated. The CdS-ZIF-8 catalysts were also characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results indicated that CdS-ZIF-8 contained ZIF-8, CdS, and ZnO phases. The CdS in CdS-ZIF-8 catalysts exhibited smaller particle size compared with pure CdS. Furthermore, compared with pure CdS, CdS-ZIF-8-30 with introduction of ZnO-rich ZIF-8 exhibited higher surface area (77.3 m²/g) and pore volume (0.103 cm³/g). EDX and FT-IR results suggested that a CdS/ZnO heterostructure was formed, which effectively reduced recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Radical trapping experimental data and band edge position analysis revealed that Z-scheme behavior also played a role in the system. Relying on the combined effect of their structure, the photodegradation efficiency of all the CdS-ZIF-8 catalysts was obviously superior to that of pure CdS for degradation of MB under visible-light irradiation. Photodegradation results illustrated that CdS-ZIF-8 with introduction of 30 mg ZnO-rich ZIF-8 (denoted as CdS-ZIF-8-30) exhibited optimal photodegradation activity.     

Comparative study for the removal of methylene blue via adsorption and photocatalytic degradation

Physically and chemically activated carbons were prepared from date pits and olive stones. Titania and WO(x)-TiO(2)/MCM-41 were prepared as photoactive catalysts. Surface characterizations were investigated from ash content, pH, base neutralization capacities and FT-IR techniques. The textural characteristics, namely specific surface area (S(BET)) and pore texture, were determined from low temperature adsorption of N(2) at 77 K. The decolorization of aqueous solution of methylene blue was performed by means of two alternative methods. Steam-activated carbons own higher surface area compared with ZnCl(2)-activated carbons, and the micropore surface area represents the major contribution of the total area. Steam-activated carbons were the most efficient decolorizing adsorbents owing to its higher surface area, total pore volume and the basic nature of the surface. The calculated values of DeltaG(0), DeltaH(0) and DeltaS(0) indicate the spontaneous behavior of adsorption. The photocatalytic degradation is more convenient method in decolorizing of methylene blue compared with the adsorption process onto activated carbons.     

A polyacrylamide gel route to different-sized CaTiO3 nanoparticles and their photocatalytic activity for dye degradation

Calcium titanate (CaTiO₃) nanoparticles with different average sizes were prepared by a polyacrylamide gel route, where the particle size was tailored by using different chelating agents. Scanning electron microscope observation shows that the samples prepared by using the chelating agents EDTA, acetic acid, tartaric acid, and citric acid have an average particle size of 25, 33, 36, and 55 nm, respectively. All the particles are regularly shaped like spheres. The bandgap energy of the four samples is measured to be 3.66–3.59 eV by ultraviolet (UV)–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared CaTiO₃ samples was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange under 254 nm UV irradiation, revealing that they exhibit a good photocatalytic activity. Hydroxyl radicals are revealed, by the photoluminescence technique using terephthalic acid as a probe molecule, to be produced on the irradiated CaTiO₃ nanoparticles and suggested to be the primary active species toward the dye degradation.     

Sonocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using spindle shaped cerium oxide nanoparticles

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The industrial revolution has raised major concern of environmental pollution, due to excess release of hazardous chemical, dyes, etc. into water bodies....     

Green and facile microwave-assisted synthesis of TiO2/graphene nanocomposite and their photocatalytic activity for methylene blue degradation

TiO₂ (P25)/graphene nanocomposite photocatalyst have been successfully synthesized with P25 and different ratios of graphene oxide through a green and facile one-step microwave-assisted method. Graphene oxide was restored to graphene sheets and P25 was coated on it simultaneously during the reaction. The method offers easy access to the semiconductor/graphene nanocomposites with a uniform coating and strong interactions between semiconductor and the underlying graphene sheets. The prepared P25/graphene nanocrystals hybrid has superior photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue, showing an impressive photocatalytic enhancement over P25. The improved photocatalytic activities may be attributed to increased adsorptivity of dyes, extended light absorption range, and efficient charge separation properties of a two-dimensional graphene network.     

AgBr/nanoAlMCM-41 visible light photocatalyst for degradation of methylene blue dye

A novel photocatalytic material was synthesized by dispersion of AgBr in nanoAlMCM-41 material. The AgBr/nanoAlMCM-41 sample shows strong absorption in the visible region because of the plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles in AgBr/nanoAlMCM-41. The catalysts were characterized using XRD (X-ray diffraction), UV-visible diffused reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activity and stability of the synthesized catalysts were evaluated for methylene blue (MB) degradation in aqueous solution in the presence of 200 W tungsten filament Philips lamp. Several parameters were examined, catalyst amount, pH and initial concentration of MB, AgBr loading. The effect of dosage of photocatalyst was studied in the range 0.05-1.00 g/L. It was seen that 0.1 g/L of photocatalyst is an optimum value for the dosage of photocatalyst. The support size was obtained about 9-100 nm. In the same way, the average size of AgBr nanoparticles was about 10nm before visible radiation. After visible radiation the average size of AgBr nanoparticles was about 25 nm.     

Reduced graphene oxide/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposite as an efficient catalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye

Research on Chemical Intermediates - This research effort reports the design and development of reduced graphene oxide/zinc ferrite (rGO/ZnFe2O4) nanocomposites for the photo-oxidative degradation...