Comparison between catalytic activities of two zinc layered hydroxide salts in brilliant green organic dye bleaching

Abstract

This paper reports the use of two layered hydroxide salts (LHS) (zinc hydroxide nitrate – ZHN – Zn5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O, and zinc hydroxide chloride – ZHC – Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O) as catalysts for brilliant green (BG) organic dye bleaching, using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. The LHS were prepared by precipitation reaction between an aqueous solution of zinc salts and an aqueous ammonia solution. The solids were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), ultraviolet-visible electronic spectroscopy (UV–Vis) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The catalytic activity of the solids was investigated at temperatures of 25, 35 and 45 °C, using different molar ratios of oxidant:dye:Zn2+ ions (present in the catalyst), in the absence and presence of ambient light. The kinetic aspect of the reaction was investigated considering that the reaction showed pseudo-first order behavior in relation to BG dye concentration. We propose a mechanism where superoxide radicals account for most of the bleaching taking place. The catalytic results obtained, along with the low cost and low toxicity of zinc compounds, establish ZHN and ZHC as novel catalysts for dye wastewater treatment, an area with constant demand for new methods and materials given its relationship with environmental equilibrium and human health.