Study of the Effect of Nickel Nano Particles and pH on the Photo-degradation of Congo Red

Abstract

Nickel nano particles were synthesized by chemical reduction method using nickel chloride as precursor, hydrazine as reducing agent in a basic medium in presence of surfactant sodium dodecylsulphonate (SDS) and polymer polyvinylpyrolidone (PVP). Titanium dioxide conventionally used as a photo-catalyst for the degradation of Congo red – water pollutant largely used as a dye in textile industries [the line is not match]. Synthesized nickel nano particles of different sizes were mechanically [need specific mechanical process] mixed with titanium dioxide. Measuring the absorbance of congo red solution, congo red solution mixed with titanium dioxide and titanium dioxide with nickel nano particles of different sizes using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, it was found that nickel nano particles accelerate the rate of photo degradation of congo red when it was mixed with titanium dioxide [this sentence is to large]. It was found that with decreasing the size of the nickel nano particles the rate of degradation increases [Need some hypothetical logic for decreasing the size of the nickel nano particles the rate of degradation increases]. Experimental results also show that there is an effect of pH of the solution. The rate of degradation is higher in acidic medium (pH 5.7) instead of basic medium (pH 8) [These two sentences may be merged].