Preparation of a Photocatalytic Activated Carbon Based on Almond Shell and Ag-ZnO: Characterization and Application to Organic Effluent Treatment

Abstract

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of an heterostructure of Ag-ZnO composite alone and impregnated with activated carbon (AC) prepared from almond shells has been developed. The structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties of the synthesized composites were examined respectively by X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy Coupled to EDS, Infrared Spectroscopy and Diffuse Reflectance Ultraviolet-Visible. The use of this prepared these materials allows to degrade up to 99.9% of MR by photocatalysis in visible light at a pH of 6 and a H2O2 concentration of 0.1 M. This efficiency of these composites developed is attributed to their homogeneous structural and functional composition, to the fineness of the particles, to their wide bandgap of 2,487 eV for Ag-ZnO and 1,856 eV for Ag-ZnO/CA and to the high thermal resistance of Ag-ZnO. This type of composite seems to be effective for the depollution of organic effluents.