Fabrication of oxidized graphite supported La2O3/ZrO2 nanocomposite for the photoremediation of toxic fast green dye

Abstract

The dyes are one of major pollutants discharged to water bodies without any premeditation. Their undesirable detection in aqueous bodies has created a menace as they tend to disturb the complete aquatic ecosystem by directly hindering the photosynthetic process of aquatic flora. Thus pre and post discharge remediation of these dyes are of immense significance. In the present study, novel OG/La2O3/ZrO2 nanocomposite having high photocatalytic ability was prepared by co-precipitation method. Visible photocatalytic ability of the nanocomposite was employed for the degradation of fast green dye as a target pollutant. The OG/La2O3/ZrO2 nanocomposite was well characterized using various techniques as FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM and XPS etc. The nanocomposite also exhibited adsorption capability due to the presence of oxidized graphite (OG) sheets those provided high surface area for the fast green molecules to get adsorb onto them. High degradation efficiency (89%) was obtained within 90 min of visible light irradiation. Effect of pH, photocatalyst amount and light intensity was also studied. Superoxide and hydroxyl radicals were found to be the major reacting species as confirmed by the scavenging studies. Furthermore, OG/La2O3/ZrO2 nanocomposite exhibited high reusability interpreting the nanocomposite as a proficient photocatalyst with active utilization for treating industrial waste water.