Photocatalytic degradation of sunfix yellow dye in aqueous ZnO suspension

Abstract

The investigation of photodegradation of sunfix yellow dye in aqueous solution of sunfix yellow/ ZnO suspension by sunlight was found to be time dependent UV-visible spectrum photodegradation. The absorption peak for sunfix yellow was found at 415.5 nm in visible region while the absorption of sunfix yellow dye shows disintegrate trend with time and finally disappeared with the increase in irradiation time. The optimum time for the photodegradation of sunfix yellow dye was found to be 150 minutes as well as 96.64% of sunfix yellow dye was degraded after 150 minutes. The effect of photocatalyst concentration on photodegradation rate of sunfix yellow dye solution was observed by different concentration range of ZnO from 0.1 to 0.8 g/ 100 mL, with dye concentration 0.20 to 1.25 mg/ 100 mL at pH 2 to 11 of sunfix yellow dye solution. The maximum decrease in concentration of sunfix yellow dye solution was found for the 0.25 mg/ 100 mL during 150 minute of radiation. The optimum catalyst concentration was found to be 0.2 g/ 100 mL. pH of the suspension turned out to be an efficient factor for the photodegradation of sunfix yellow dye and the optimum pH was noticed to be 10.