Efficient degradation of dye pollutants in wastewater via photocatalysis using a magnetic zinc oxide/graphene/iron oxide-based catalyst

In this paper, we present a proof-of-concept study of the enhancement of photocatalytic activity via a combined strategy of fabricating a visible-light responsive ternary heterostructure and improving overall photostability by incorporating magnetic zinc oxide/graphene/iron oxide (ZGF). A solvothermal approach was used to synthesize the catalyst. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopic, energy dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopic, vibrating sample magnetometric, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the synthesized samples. The obtained optimal Zn(NO_(3))_(2) concentration, temperature, and heating duration were 0.10 mol/L, 600℃, and 1 h, respectively. The XRD pattern revealed the presence of peaks corresponding to zinc oxide, graphene, and iron oxide, indicating that the ZGF catalyst was effectively synthesized. Furthermore, when the developed ZGF was used for methylene blue dye degradation, the optimum irradiation time, dye concentration, catalyst dosage, irradiation intensity, and solution pH were 90 min, 10 mg/L, 0.03 g/L, 100 W, and 8.0, respectively. Therefore, the synthesized ZGF system could be used as a catalyst to degrade dyes in wastewater samples. This hybrid nanocomposite consisting of zinc oxide, graphene, and iron oxide could also be used as an effective photocatalytic degrader for various dye pollutants.

Dye-Enhanced Self-Electrophoretic Propulsion of Light-Driven TiO_2–Au Janus Micromotors

Light-driven synthetic micro-/nanomotors have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their unique performances and potential applications. We herein demonstrate the dye-enhanced self-electrophoretic propulsion of light-driven Ti O_2–Au Janus micromotors in aqueous dye solutions. Compared to the velocities of these micromotors in pure water, 1.7, 1.5, and 1.4 times accelerated motions were observed for them in aqueous solutions of methyl blue(10-5g L^(-1)), cresol red(10^(-4)g L^(-1)),and methyl orange(10^(-4)g L^(-1)), respectively. We determined that the micromotor speed changes depending on thetype of dyes, due to variations in their photodegradation rates. In addition, following the deposition of a paramagnetic Ni layer between the Au and Ti O_2 layers, the micromotor can be precisely navigated under an external magnetic field. Such magnetic micromotors not only facilitate the recycling of micromotors, but also allow reusability in the context of dye detection and degradation.In general, such photocatalytic micro-/nanomotors provide considerable potential for the rapid detection and ‘‘on-thefly'' degradation of dye pollutants in aqueous environments.

Effect of dye-metal complexation on photocatalytic decomposition of the dyes on TiO_2 under visible irradiation

The photocatalytic degradation of dyes （Acid Chrome Blue K （ACBK） and Alizarin Red （AR）） with strong complexation ability was investigated in the presence of metal ions under visible light irradiation. It was found that, at low dye-metal ratio, the photodegradation of ACBK was markedly inhibited by the addition of high oxidative potential Cu2＋. However, at high dye-metal ratio, the presence of Cu2＋ enhanced the photodegradation of ACBK. The negtive effect of Cu2＋ on the photodegradation of AR was observed for all dyemetal ratios. The relative chemical inert Zn2＋ tended to enhance the photodegradation of both anionic dyes. The mechanism underlying the different effect of Cu2＋ was discussed from the different roles of surface-adsorbed and dye-coordinated Cu2＋ in the photodegradation of dyes.

Green synthesis of nickel nanoparticles using Ocimum sanctum and their application in dye and pollutant adsorption

Nickel nanoparticles as an eco-friendly adsorbent was biosynthesized using Ocimum sanctum leaf extract. The physiochemical properties of green synthesized nickel nanoparticles(Ni Gs) were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy(UV–Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FTIR), X-ray diffraction(XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope(TEM). Ni Gs were used as adsorbent for the removal of dyes such as crystal violet(CV), eosin Y(EY), orange II(OR) and anionic pollutant nitrate(NO3-), sulfate(SO42-) from aqueous solution. Adsorption capacity of Ni Gs was examined in batch modes at different p H, contact time, Ni G dosage, initial dye and pollutant concentration. The adsorption process was p H dependent and the adsorption capacity increased with increase in contact time and with that of Ni G dosage, whereas the adsorption capacity decreased at higher concentrations of dyes and pollutants. Maximum percentage removal of dyes and pollutants were observed at 40, 20,30, 10 and 10 mg·L-1initial concentration of CV, EY, OR, NO3-and SO42-respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities in Langmuir isotherm were found to be 0.454, 0.615, 0.273, 0.795 and 0.645 mg·g-1at p H 8, 3, 3, 7and 7 for CV, EY, OR, NO3-and SO42-respectively. The higher coef ficients of correlation in Langmuir isotherm suggested monolayer adsorption. The mean energies(E), 2.23, 3.53, 2.50, 5.00 and 3.16 k J·mol-1for CV, EY, OR, NO3-and SO42-respectively, calculated from the Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm showed physical adsorption of adsorbate onto Ni Gs. Adsorption kinetics data was better fitted to pseudo-second-order kinetics with R2 N 0.870 for all dyes and pollutants. Ni Gs were found to be an effective adsorbent for the removal of dyes and pollutants from aqueous solution and can be applied to treat textile and tannery ef fluents.

A new technology for harnessing the dye polluted water and dye collection in a chemical factory

A new technology for harnessing the dye polluted water and dye collection was developed. It is based on the enhanced evaporation by using solar, wind and air temperature energy and additional heat-electric energy. It consists of four parts: (1) evaporation carrier system (evaporation carrier and frame for evaporation carrier) for polluted water; (2)polluted water circulating system (pumping-spraying-collecting); (3)heating system; (4)workshop with polluted water reservoir-tanks and rainfall prevention roof. The polluted water was (heated in case necessary) sprayed to the evaporation carrier system and the water was evaporated when it moved in the space and downward along the carrier mainly by using natural (solar, wind and air temperature energy). In case, when there is no roof for the carrier system, the polluted water can be stored in the reservoirs (storage volume for about 20 days). The first 10-25 mm rainfall also need to be stored in the reservoirs to meet the state standard or discharging wastewater. The dye may be collected at the surface in the reservoir-tanks and the crystallized salt may be collected at the bottom plate. The black-color wastewater released by the factory is no more discharged to the surface water system of Taihu Lake Basin. About 2 kg dye and 200 kg industrial salt may be collected from each tone of the polluted water. The non-pollution production of dye may be realized by using this technology with environmental, economical and social benefits.

Reaction site and mechanism in the UV or visible light induced TiO2 photodegradation of Orange G

For TiO2 heterogeneous reaction, the reaction site and the detailed mechanism are interesting and controversy topics. In this paper, effects of surface fluorination of TiO2 on the photocatalytic degradation of an azo dye, Orange G（OG） under UV or visible light irradiation were investigated, and the possible reaction site and mechanism were elucidated. The adsorption of OG on TiO2 was nearly inhibited by fluoride but its UV light induced photodegradation rate was greatly increased by a factor of about 2.7, which was due to the more generated free hydroxyl radicals. It supported the views that fluoride could desorb the oxidant species from surface and that the reaction sites could move to the bulk solution. In TiO2/Vis system, the observed inhibition effects of fluorination could be interpreted by the competitive adsorption, which provided additional evidences that the visible light sensitized photodegradation of dye pollutants on the catalyst surface.

Involvement of chloride anion in photocatalytic process

The effect of Cl^- on photocatalytic degradation（PCD） of pollutants is an important factor since it is ubiquitous in nature. In general, Cl^- showed an inhibition on photodegradation due to its scavenging HO- radicals. In this paper, experiments were carried out to examine the effects of CI on the PCD of Methylene Blue （MB） and Orange II （OII） in aqueous TiO2 suspensions under UV light illumination. It was found that low concentration of Cl^- （ 〈 0.01 mol/L） showed little influence on both dyes, however, high concentration of Cl^- （ 〉 0.10 mol/L） had a very different influence on the decolorization of dyes： a significant inhibition for MB but a great promotion for Oll. In the presence of 0.50 mol/L Cl^- , the rate decreased by 70% for MB while increased 7.5-fold for Oll. Furthermore, two bands in the ultraviolet region of Oll were rapidly broken down. The proposed mechanism was discussed in detail.

Magnetite/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites： One Step Solvothermal Synthesis and Use as a Novel Platform for Removal of Dye Pollutants

A simple one step solvothermal strategy using non-toxic and cost-effective precursors has been developed to prepare magnetite/reduced graphene oxide （MRGO） nanocomposites for removal of dye pollutants. Taking advantage of the combined benefits of graphene and magnetic nanoparticles, these MRGO nanocomposites exhibit excellent removal efficiency （over 91% for rhodamine B and over 94% for malachite green） and rapid separation from aqueous solution by an external magnetic field. Interestingly, the performance of the MRGO composites is strongly dependent on both the loading of Fe304 and the pH value. In addition, the adsorption behavior of this new adsorbent fits well with the Freundlich isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In further applications, real samples--including industrial waste water and lake water--have been treated using the MRGO composites. All the results demonstrate that the MRGO composites are effective adsorbents for removal of dye pollutants and thus could provide a new platform for dye decontamination.

Fast Degradation of Green Pollutants Through Nanonets and Nanofibers of the Al-Doped Zinc Oxide

In this study, series of nanolayered structures of Zn–Al LDHs were prepared by urea hydrolysis. Nanofibers and nanonets of the Al-doped ZnO were formed via the decomposition of the nanolayers under high pressure and temperature. Nanospheres were also prepared for comparison. The different morphologies of the prepared nanomaterials were confirmed by several techniques. An improvement for the optical properties of the doped zinc oxides was observed through narrowing of their band gap energies because of transforming the nanolayers to nanonets and nanofibers. The photocatalytic activities of the prepared nanomaterials were studied through photocatalytic degradation of the pollutants of acid green dyes. Complete decolorization and mineralization of green dyes happened in the presence of the nanolayers and nanospheres within 4–6 h,while the nanonets and the nanofibers achieved the complete decolorization and degradation of the dyes at shorter time 1.3 h. These results could be explained though the kinetic study of the photocatalytic degradation of dyes. It was concluded that the nanonets and the nanofibers were very effective for the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants.