Ultrasound-assisted nanoscaled supramolecular coordination polymer as an efficient recyclable catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of dye pollutants

An ultrasound-assisted nanoscaled supramolecular coordination polymer (nanosized 1′ ) has been synthesized using a self-assembly reaction of K₃[Cu (CN)₄] and hexamethylenetetramine in the presence of Me₃SnCl under ambient conditions. Nanosized 1′ was examined using elemental analysis, Fourier transform–infrared, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffractions. It was structurally compared with the single crystal supramolecular coordination polymer ^∞₃[Cu₆(CN)₇(C₆H₁₂N₄)₂(OH₃)]; SCP 1. The photocatalytic activities of nanosized 1′ and SCP 1 toward different hazardous organic dyes were determined under ambient, UV-light irradiation and ultrasonic conditions. SCP 1 and nanosized 1′ as heterogeneous nanoparticles catalysts exhibited high catalytic activity for degradation of Congo Red, Methyl Violet 2B and Methylene Blue dyes. The effects of operational parameters on catalytic degradation process, identification of the degradation products and recycling of the catalyst were also investigated. SCP 1 and nanosized 1′ are recyclable heterogeneous catalysts and can be reused with efficient activities. The mechanism of degradation using different scavenger techniques iss proposed and discussed. The catalytic oxidation process is mainly caused by ^•OH radicals.