Abstract
PAn (polyaniline) and PAn/ZnO photocatalysts were synthesized using chemical polymerization of aniline. The structure characterization of the synthesized samples was analysed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The photocatalytic activities of PAn and PAn/ZnO (0.1g/100ml) on the degradation of the Congo red (CR) dye were studied under the UV visible light irradiation and the lightless environment and the efficiency of catalysts have been explained in details. Contribution of UV visible light irradiation on the 100% degradation of CR dye for the PAn and PAn/ZnO photocatalyst is determined. The reaction kinetics and effect of pH (pH 4 and pH 10) were investigated by using first order kinetic model. According to the experimental results, photocatalytic reaction rate of Congo Red increased in acidic environment and under UV visible light irradiation.
Highlights
Organic pollution is a big environmental problem and negatively effects eco-system and human health [1]
Materials Aniline (ANI, C 6 H 7 N) monomer had 99.5% purity, hydrochloric acid (HCl) 37%, ammonium persulfate (APS) ((NH 4)2 S 2 0 8), ethanol (C 2 H 6 O) and sodium chloride (NaCl) were supplied by Merck and ZnO nanoparticles with an average particle size of less than 100 nm were purchased from Sigma Aldrich Company
Congo red (CR) dye (C 32 H 22 N 6 Na 2 O 6 S 2) was from (CI 22120, BDH Chemical Ltd.) All reagents were of analytical grade and were used without further purification
Summary
Organic pollution is a big environmental problem and negatively effects eco-system and human health [1]. One of the most important environmental contaminants affecting the eco-environment, which are harmful to humans, plants, and animals in water, soil, and air are dyes. Dye selected as a candidate in this study, has a toxic effect, which causes severe health problems in humans and aquatic organisms affects all [3,4,5,6,7]. The effective and economical removal of this harmful dye from receiving water environments is very important. Adsorption of Congo red has been developed by using ozonation, biological treatment, various methods for the removal of the aqueous source containing sonochemical and photocatalytic decomposition in recent years. Photocatalytic application is more preferred because of its low cost, low temperature, and easy application [5,6,7,8]
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