Ultrasound assisted photocatalytic degradation of isoproturon and triasulfuron herbicides using visible light driven impregnated zinc oxide catalysts

Abstract

Herbicides in wastewater are considered as a serious issue to environmental pollution. Different impregnated metal zinc oxide (Cu/ZnO and Ni/ZnO) as catalysts were prepared through wet impregnation method for the degradation of herbicides Isoproturon and triasulfuron. The prepared impregnated catalysts were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopyand surface area. The degradation of selected herbicides were investigated using combined effect of photocatalysis and sonication. The experimental parameters such as pH, irradiation time, photocatalyst dose, effect of oxidants, diverse ion effect, herbicide concentration and catalyst reusability have been optimized. The percent removal of isoproturon was found to be 99 and 98% at pH 7 and triasulfuron was 98% at pH 6 using Cu/ZnO and 99% at pH 7 using Ni/ZnO photocatalysts respectively.Graphical Graphical abstract of Ultrasound Assisted Photocatalytic Degradation of Isoproturon and Triasulfuron Herbicides