Abstract
This paper studied the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) using polymeric membrane impregnated with ZnO nanostructures under UV-light and sunlight irradiation. ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO nanowires were prepared using the hydrothermal technique. Cellulose acetate polymeric membranes were fabricated by the phase inversion method using dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent and ZnO nanostructures. The structural properties of the nanostructures and the membranes were investigated using XRD, SEM, FTIR, and TGA measurements. The membranes were tested for photocatalytic degradation of MB using a UV lamp and a sunlight simulator. The photocatalytic results under sunlight irradiation in the presence of cellulose acetate impregnated with ZnO nanoparticles (CA-ZnO-NP) showed a more rapid degradation of MB (about 75%) compared to the results obtained under UV-light irradiation degradation (about 30%). The results show that CA-ZnO-NP possesses the photocatalytic ability to degrade MB efficiently at different levels under UV-light and sunlight irradiation. Modified membranes with ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO nanowires were found to be chemically stable, recyclable, and reproducible. The addition of ZnO nanostructure to the cellulose membranes generally enhanced their photocatalytic activity toward MB, making these potential membranes candidates for removing organic pollutants from aqueous solutions.
Highlights
Water is a valuable natural resource, and its quality and availability are essential for the survival of the earth’s living creatures
In our recent study [37], we reported the fabrication of activated carbon fiber (ACF)/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod (NR) nanocomposite with unique microstructural and photocatalytic properties; the adsorption and photocatalytic activity
The results show that cellulose acetate (CA)-ZnO-NP possesses the photocatalytic ability to degrade Methylene blue (MB) at different levels under both UV-light and sunlight irradiation
Summary
Water is a valuable natural resource, and its quality and availability are essential for the survival of the earth’s living creatures. In the last few years, parallel to the accelerated development of dye industries; this behavior has resulted in a serious water problem and caused negative effects on the environment and human lives. Most organic dyes do not biodegrade because they are highly resistant to environmental conditions, making their removal from wastewater both a critical need and a challenging task [2]. In this regard, it is essential to develop effective, low-cost, and novel materials for MB and other organic dye removal from aqueous solutions to bring life back to the environment
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