Ecofriendly and enhanced photocatalytic degradation of Indigo dye by graphene oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present work, photocatalytic degradation of indigo dye by synthesized graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterials using conventional and improved Hummers method has been reported. In the present research, the emphasis is to explore the photocatalytic degradation of GO, using NaNO3 (N-GO) and without using NaNO3 (WN-GO) under the exposure of UV light. WN-GO possesses eco-friendly behaviour as it eliminates the generation of toxic gases (NO2/N2O2) in the atmosphere. Synthesized nanomaterials were characterized using SEM–EDS, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis and FTIR. Indigo dye (C16H10N2O2) was identified as a model to investigate the photocatalytic degradation of GO nanoparticles under UV exposure. The absorbance peak of indigo dye with N-GO and WN-GO has been plotted as a function of irradiation time. The progress of the decolourization reaction of dye with catalysts was measured by a change in colour from blue to transparent. Compared to N-GO, WN-GO possesses organic and eco-friendly degradation of indigo dye under UV irradiation. The versatile photocatalytic characteristics of WN-GO possess higher-order degradation rate constant (k) makes it a potential candidate for bioremediation of wastewater treatment. Therefore, the degradation of indigo dye with GO exhibits encouraging solution for treating contaminated water and provides a facile route towards environmental cleanness.