Effective photocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue utilizing ZnO/rectorite nanocomposite under simulated solar irradiation

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 616; pp. 227 - 234
• Main Authors: Li, Shi-qian, Zhou, Pei-jiang, Zhang, Wan-shun, Chen, Sheng, Peng, Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15.12.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalytic reactions; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Methylene blue; Nanocomposites; Photodecolorization; Simulated solar; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; ZnO/rectorite; Simulated solar; Photodecolorization; Nanocomposites; ZnO/rectorite; Methylene blue; Scanning electron microscopy; Discoloration; Organic dye; Surface morphology; Photocatalysis; Thermogravimetry; Aluminosilicates; X ray diffraction; Thermal properties; Transmission electron microscopy; Hydrothermal synthesis; Zinc oxide; Nanocomposite; Solar radiation
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2014.07.102

•Preparation of ZnO inserted in rectorite as photocatalyst in methylene blue photodegradation.•The ZnO/rectorite can be used as adsorbents and photocatalysts.•The ZnO/rectorite system was easy to be gathered and recycled.•Inferred ZnO/rectorite the photocatalytic degradation methylene blue of aqueous micro mechanism. Preparation of a nanometer zinc oxide/rectorite (ZnO/REC) composites photocatalyst based on natural rectorite was conducted using a hydrothermal intercalation method. The structure, thermal property, and surface morphology of ZnO/REC were characterized by X-ray diffractor (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO/REC was evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution as a model pollutant under simulated sunlight irradiation. The HRTEM results revealed that well-dispersed and uniform ZnO/REC nanocomposites with diameters of 10nm were embedded in rectorite. The ZnO/REC nanocomposite exhibited high photocatalytic activity under simulated solar irradiation. After 2h of irradiation by simulated solar light, over 99% of methylene blue solution (15mg/L) was decolorized with 0.9g/L of the photocatalyst. The ZnO/REC was reusable, which meant that the adsorption photocatalytic decolorization process could be operated at a relatively low cost. Since this process does not require the addition of hydrogen peroxide but uses sunlight, it can be developed as an economically feasible and environmentally friendly method to decolorize or treat dye wastewater using solar.