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A novel photocatalytic degradation of mixed dye through chemically synthesized ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite
Journal
Environmental Geochemistry and Health
ISSN
1573-2983
Date Issued
2024-06-07
Author(s)
Utaiyachandran Manojkumar
Durairaj Kaliannan
Balamuralikrishnan Balasubramanian
Hesam Kamyab
Yasser Vasseghian
Shreeshivadasan Chelliapan
Palaninaicker Senthilkumar
Abstract
This study reported the synthesis and assessment of zinc oxide/iron oxide (ZnO/Fe2O3) nanocomposite as photocatalysts for the degradation of a mixture of methylene red and methylene blue dyes. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the crystallite of zinc oxide (ZnO) has a hexagonal wurtzite phase and iron oxide (Fe2O3) has a rhombohedral phase.
Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectrum confirms the presence of Zn–O vibration stretching at 428, 480 and 543 cm−1 stretching confirming Fe–O bond formation. Scanning Electron Microscope images exhibited a diverse size and shape of the nanocomposites.
The ZnO-90%/Fe2O3-10% and ZnO-10%/Fe2O3-90% nanocomposites reveal good photocatalytic activity with reaction rate constants of 1.5 × 10−2 and 0.66 × 10−2; and 1.3 × 10−2 and 0.60 × 10−2 for methylene blue and methyl red dye respectively.
The results revealed that the synthesized ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite is the best catalyst for dye degradation and can be used for industrial applications in future.
Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectrum confirms the presence of Zn–O vibration stretching at 428, 480 and 543 cm−1 stretching confirming Fe–O bond formation. Scanning Electron Microscope images exhibited a diverse size and shape of the nanocomposites.
The ZnO-90%/Fe2O3-10% and ZnO-10%/Fe2O3-90% nanocomposites reveal good photocatalytic activity with reaction rate constants of 1.5 × 10−2 and 0.66 × 10−2; and 1.3 × 10−2 and 0.60 × 10−2 for methylene blue and methyl red dye respectively.
The results revealed that the synthesized ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite is the best catalyst for dye degradation and can be used for industrial applications in future.