Facile synthesis of novel AgBr/Ag/AgCoO2 composite coated petrocoke beads for the visible light degradation of organic effluents

Abstract

A heterojunction AgBr/Ag/AgCoO2 nanocomposite was synthesized by hydrothermal followed by deposition precipitation method. The morphology, crystallinity and band structure of the nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV DRS). The beads were prepared by coating the synthesized material on petrocoke with the aid of chitosan. The performance of synthesized catalyst and beads were analysed through real effluent which shows outstanding efficiency under visible light. The pure and crystallinity was portrayed by diffraction studies whereas the morphology of AgCoO2 as nanoplate structure deposited on quasi spherical AgBr. The photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated with real effluent and showed good performance Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal. The fabricated beads showed good removal efficiency of TOC with good stability.