Hybrid Sono-photocatalytic degradation of Acid Brown 14 Using Persulphate and ZnO Nanoparticles: Feasibility and kinetic Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Degradation of acid brown 14 (AB14) was studied using ultrasound/ultraviolet for heterogeneous activation of persulphate and ZnO nanoparticle. Various operating parameters including AB14 initial concentration, pH, ZnO dose, anion concentration, ultrasound, as well as ultraviolet synergic effect and scavenging factors were evaluated. The maximum dye removal was observed at a high persulphate concentration, acidic pH, low initial day concentration, and under the simultaneous ultrasound/ultraviolet irradiations plus presence of ZnO. AB14 removal efficiency was elevated from 15% to 75% when ZnO was added as a catalyst. The kinetic study revealed that the experimental data had the best fit with the second-order kinetic model (R2: 0.92) with the rate constant of 0.0025 min−1. The scavenging test indicated that the sulphate radicals were the dominant species during the AB14 degradation. Finally, the high removal efficiency of AB14 (nearly to 100%) suggests that this process is efficient for removal of organic dyes from aqueous solutions.