Synthesis of Ag/ZnO-AC composite photocatalyst: spectroscopic investigation, parameter optimization, synergistic effect and performance enhancement for cost-effective photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes

A ternary photocatalyst composite-Silver decorated on ZnO supported with activated carbon (Ag/ZnO-AC) was investigated for the synthesis, characterization and UV assisted photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes present in wastewater. XPS and TEM revealed the elemental composition and formatio...

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Main Authors: Surabhi N. Shintre, Sachin Wadhai, Pragati Thakur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IWA Publishing 2022-05-01
Series:Water Science and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/85/9/2663
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author Surabhi N. Shintre
Sachin Wadhai
Pragati Thakur
author_facet Surabhi N. Shintre
Sachin Wadhai
Pragati Thakur
author_sort Surabhi N. Shintre
collection DOAJ
description A ternary photocatalyst composite-Silver decorated on ZnO supported with activated carbon (Ag/ZnO-AC) was investigated for the synthesis, characterization and UV assisted photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes present in wastewater. XPS and TEM revealed the elemental composition and formation of ternary Ag/ZnO-AC composite. Different operational parameters including the effect of calcination temperature, catalyst dose, initial concentration of pollutant and the effect of H2O2 and ethanol were studied. The photocatalytic activity was assessed for the degradation of p-Nitrophenol (PNP), o-Nitrophenol (ONP), and dye methyl orange (MO) under UV irradiation by ZnO, Ag/ZnO and Ag/ZnO-AC catalyst. The degradation for PNP, ONP and MO in presence of UV light were found to be in the order Ag/ZnO-AC>Ag/ZnO>ZnO. Improved degradation by Ag/ZnO-AC is attributed to high charge separation and greater adsorption of pollutant because of the combination of Ag and AC leading to a synergistic effect in the catalyst. Along with the high reusability, the composite catalyst Ag/ZnO-AC was found to be non-selective and cost-effective for the degradation of phenols as well as dyes. The as synthesized ternary composite Ag/ZnO-AC can be efficiently used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of recalcitrant and other deleterious contaminants present in wastewater. HIGHLIGHTS ZnO, Ag/ZnO and Ag/ZnO-AC were synthesized and confirmed by characterization techniques.; Different operational parameters were studied for the economic feasibility of the photocatalyst.; The rate of degradation for PNP, ONP and MO were found to be in the order Ag/ZnO-AC > Ag/ZnO > ZnO.; Composite catalyst Ag/ZnO-AC was sustainable owing to its reusability studies.; Composite catalyst Ag/ZnO-AC was non-selective for the photocatalytic degradation of phenols as well as dyes.;
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spelling doaj.art-15819271eef8431db6c2d35a83ce74852022-12-22T02:49:20ZengIWA PublishingWater Science and Technology0273-12231996-97322022-05-018592663268110.2166/wst.2022.137137Synthesis of Ag/ZnO-AC composite photocatalyst: spectroscopic investigation, parameter optimization, synergistic effect and performance enhancement for cost-effective photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyesSurabhi N. Shintre0Sachin Wadhai1Pragati Thakur2 Department of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India Department of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India Department of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India A ternary photocatalyst composite-Silver decorated on ZnO supported with activated carbon (Ag/ZnO-AC) was investigated for the synthesis, characterization and UV assisted photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes present in wastewater. XPS and TEM revealed the elemental composition and formation of ternary Ag/ZnO-AC composite. Different operational parameters including the effect of calcination temperature, catalyst dose, initial concentration of pollutant and the effect of H2O2 and ethanol were studied. The photocatalytic activity was assessed for the degradation of p-Nitrophenol (PNP), o-Nitrophenol (ONP), and dye methyl orange (MO) under UV irradiation by ZnO, Ag/ZnO and Ag/ZnO-AC catalyst. The degradation for PNP, ONP and MO in presence of UV light were found to be in the order Ag/ZnO-AC>Ag/ZnO>ZnO. Improved degradation by Ag/ZnO-AC is attributed to high charge separation and greater adsorption of pollutant because of the combination of Ag and AC leading to a synergistic effect in the catalyst. Along with the high reusability, the composite catalyst Ag/ZnO-AC was found to be non-selective and cost-effective for the degradation of phenols as well as dyes. The as synthesized ternary composite Ag/ZnO-AC can be efficiently used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of recalcitrant and other deleterious contaminants present in wastewater. HIGHLIGHTS ZnO, Ag/ZnO and Ag/ZnO-AC were synthesized and confirmed by characterization techniques.; Different operational parameters were studied for the economic feasibility of the photocatalyst.; The rate of degradation for PNP, ONP and MO were found to be in the order Ag/ZnO-AC > Ag/ZnO > ZnO.; Composite catalyst Ag/ZnO-AC was sustainable owing to its reusability studies.; Composite catalyst Ag/ZnO-AC was non-selective for the photocatalytic degradation of phenols as well as dyes.;http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/85/9/2663ag/zno-acdegradationmethyl orangephotocatalytic activitypnpsynergistic effect
spellingShingle Surabhi N. Shintre
Sachin Wadhai
Pragati Thakur
Synthesis of Ag/ZnO-AC composite photocatalyst: spectroscopic investigation, parameter optimization, synergistic effect and performance enhancement for cost-effective photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes
Water Science and Technology
ag/zno-ac
degradation
methyl orange
photocatalytic activity
pnp
synergistic effect
title Synthesis of Ag/ZnO-AC composite photocatalyst: spectroscopic investigation, parameter optimization, synergistic effect and performance enhancement for cost-effective photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes
title_full Synthesis of Ag/ZnO-AC composite photocatalyst: spectroscopic investigation, parameter optimization, synergistic effect and performance enhancement for cost-effective photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes
title_fullStr Synthesis of Ag/ZnO-AC composite photocatalyst: spectroscopic investigation, parameter optimization, synergistic effect and performance enhancement for cost-effective photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis of Ag/ZnO-AC composite photocatalyst: spectroscopic investigation, parameter optimization, synergistic effect and performance enhancement for cost-effective photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes
title_short Synthesis of Ag/ZnO-AC composite photocatalyst: spectroscopic investigation, parameter optimization, synergistic effect and performance enhancement for cost-effective photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes
title_sort synthesis of ag zno ac composite photocatalyst spectroscopic investigation parameter optimization synergistic effect and performance enhancement for cost effective photocatalytic degradation of phenols and dyes
topic ag/zno-ac
degradation
methyl orange
photocatalytic activity
pnp
synergistic effect
url http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/85/9/2663
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AT sachinwadhai synthesisofagznoaccompositephotocatalystspectroscopicinvestigationparameteroptimizationsynergisticeffectandperformanceenhancementforcosteffectivephotocatalyticdegradationofphenolsanddyes
AT pragatithakur synthesisofagznoaccompositephotocatalystspectroscopicinvestigationparameteroptimizationsynergisticeffectandperformanceenhancementforcosteffectivephotocatalyticdegradationofphenolsanddyes