Abstract
In this investigation, a hybrid-biocomposite “ZnO-Bentonite/Chitosan” was synthesized using inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials (Bentonitechitosan) and (ZnO). It was used as a photocatalyst for water remediation. The structural, optical, thermal, and morphological properties of the synthesized hybrid-biocomposite were investigated using XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, TGA, XPS, and SEM-EDS. The thermal measurements showed that the decomposition of CS was postponed progressively by adding PB and ZnO, and the thermal stability of the synthesized hybrid-biocomposite was improved. The characterization results highlighted strong interactions between the C–O, C=O, -NH2, and OH groups of chitosan and the alumina-silica sheets of bentonite on the one side, and between the functional groups of chitosan (-NH2, OH) and ZnO on the other side. The photocatalytic efficiency of the prepared hybrid-biocomposite was assessed in the presence of Methyl Orange (MO). The experiments carried out in the dark showed that the MO removal increased in the presence of Zn-PB/CS hybrid-biocomposite (86.1%) by comparison with PB (75.8%) and CS (65.4%) materials. The photocatalytic experiments carried out under visible light showed that the MO removal increased 268 times in the presence of Zn-PB/CS by comparison withZnO.The holes trapping experiments indicated that they are the main oxidative active species involved in the MO degradation under both UV-A and visible light irradiations.
Highlights
Water consumption is continuously increasing due to water demand in the agricultural and industrial sectors as well as in domestic utilities
Several wastewater treatment processes are currently used such as coagulation/flocculation, ozonation, adsorption, and Advanced Oxidation processes (AOPs) [1,2,3,4]
Fatimah et al [13] reported that the insertion of ZnO in monmorillonite matrix improved the band gap energy and enhanced the rate of photooxidation of methylene blue.In a previous investigation, Aadnan et al [5] indicated that the photocatalytic performance under visible light was significantly improved by adding 7 wt%
Summary
Water consumption is continuously increasing due to water demand in the agricultural and industrial sectors as well as in domestic utilities. It has been reported that about two million tons of wastewater coming from agriculture and industrial plants are daily discharged into the world’s natural water resources [1]. To meet the challenge of water supply, wastewater treatment plants should be installed, and the reutilization of treated wastewater should be considered as an additional water resourcein these countries’ waterpolicies. In this regard, several wastewater treatment processes are currently used such as coagulation/flocculation, ozonation, adsorption, and Advanced Oxidation processes (AOPs) [1,2,3,4]
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