Green synthesis, characterisation, and performance evaluation of ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite for cationic and anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions under solar irradiation

Utilising plant extract for the synthesis of nanocomposite shows great potential as a viable substitute for conventional chemical method. In this study, ZnO/TiO2 composite of three different weight ratios (1:2, 1:1, and 2:1) were green synthesised using hibiscus leaf extract as the capping agent. Th...

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Main Authors: Kavya Anil, Anupama Surenjan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IWA Publishing 2024-03-01
Series:Water Practice and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/19/3/824
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author Kavya Anil
Anupama Surenjan
author_facet Kavya Anil
Anupama Surenjan
author_sort Kavya Anil
collection DOAJ
description Utilising plant extract for the synthesis of nanocomposite shows great potential as a viable substitute for conventional chemical method. In this study, ZnO/TiO2 composite of three different weight ratios (1:2, 1:1, and 2:1) were green synthesised using hibiscus leaf extract as the capping agent. The synthesised composites were characterised using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), UV–Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (EDS), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD results confirmed the presence of wurtzite ZnO and anatase TiO2 in the composite. FTIR and FESEM analysis confirmed the formation of the composite. The composite was used for the removal of methylene blue and methyl orange dye under solar radiation. The degradation rate constant (k) of the composite with 1:2 weight ratio was 1.9 times the k value of pure TiO2. The effect of photocatalyst amount, initial pH of the dye solution, and reusability of the catalyst was investigated. The TiO2 and ZnO/TiO2 samples indicated a bandgap of 3.14 and 2.98 eV, respectively, which suggests better photocatalytic activity and also making the composite more active in the visible region. HIGHLIGHTS ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite has been synthesised through green synthesis using hibiscus leaf extract as the capping agent.; UV–Vis study revealed a bandgap of 2.98 eV, with a red shift in absorption spectrum.; Optimisation study of catalyst dosage and pH for maximum degradation efficiency for dyes were carried out.; ZnO/TiO2 (1:2) composite exhibited good recyclability up to three cycles of treatment.;
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spelling doaj.art-843175c37390420caca6fdf6c11329f42024-04-20T07:03:27ZengIWA PublishingWater Practice and Technology1751-231X2024-03-0119382483810.2166/wpt.2024.022022Green synthesis, characterisation, and performance evaluation of ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite for cationic and anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions under solar irradiationKavya Anil0Anupama Surenjan1 Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology-Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangaluru 575025, India Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology-Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangaluru 575025, India Utilising plant extract for the synthesis of nanocomposite shows great potential as a viable substitute for conventional chemical method. In this study, ZnO/TiO2 composite of three different weight ratios (1:2, 1:1, and 2:1) were green synthesised using hibiscus leaf extract as the capping agent. The synthesised composites were characterised using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), UV–Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (EDS), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD results confirmed the presence of wurtzite ZnO and anatase TiO2 in the composite. FTIR and FESEM analysis confirmed the formation of the composite. The composite was used for the removal of methylene blue and methyl orange dye under solar radiation. The degradation rate constant (k) of the composite with 1:2 weight ratio was 1.9 times the k value of pure TiO2. The effect of photocatalyst amount, initial pH of the dye solution, and reusability of the catalyst was investigated. The TiO2 and ZnO/TiO2 samples indicated a bandgap of 3.14 and 2.98 eV, respectively, which suggests better photocatalytic activity and also making the composite more active in the visible region. HIGHLIGHTS ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite has been synthesised through green synthesis using hibiscus leaf extract as the capping agent.; UV–Vis study revealed a bandgap of 2.98 eV, with a red shift in absorption spectrum.; Optimisation study of catalyst dosage and pH for maximum degradation efficiency for dyes were carried out.; ZnO/TiO2 (1:2) composite exhibited good recyclability up to three cycles of treatment.;http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/19/3/824compositedye removalgreen synthesisheterojunctionphotocatalysis
spellingShingle Kavya Anil
Anupama Surenjan
Green synthesis, characterisation, and performance evaluation of ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite for cationic and anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions under solar irradiation
Water Practice and Technology
composite
dye removal
green synthesis
heterojunction
photocatalysis
title Green synthesis, characterisation, and performance evaluation of ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite for cationic and anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions under solar irradiation
title_full Green synthesis, characterisation, and performance evaluation of ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite for cationic and anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions under solar irradiation
title_fullStr Green synthesis, characterisation, and performance evaluation of ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite for cationic and anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions under solar irradiation
title_full_unstemmed Green synthesis, characterisation, and performance evaluation of ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite for cationic and anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions under solar irradiation
title_short Green synthesis, characterisation, and performance evaluation of ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite for cationic and anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions under solar irradiation
title_sort green synthesis characterisation and performance evaluation of zno tio2 nanocomposite for cationic and anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions under solar irradiation
topic composite
dye removal
green synthesis
heterojunction
photocatalysis
url http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/19/3/824
work_keys_str_mv AT kavyaanil greensynthesischaracterisationandperformanceevaluationofznotio2nanocompositeforcationicandanionicdyeremovalfromaqueoussolutionsundersolarirradiation
AT anupamasurenjan greensynthesischaracterisationandperformanceevaluationofznotio2nanocompositeforcationicandanionicdyeremovalfromaqueoussolutionsundersolarirradiation