Preparation of solar-enhanced AlZnO@carbon nano-substrates for remediation of textile wastewaters

摘要

Photoactive aluminum doped ZnO(AlZnO)was synthesized by sol-gel method.After that,AlZnO photocatalyst was deposited on five carbon-based materials(CBMs)using ultrasonic route followed by solid-state mixing using ball mill.The CBMs used were poly aniline(PANI),carbon nitride(CN),carbon nanotubes(CNT),graphene(G),and carbon nanofibers(CNF).The crystal phases,elemental compositions,morphological,and optical properties of the AlZnO@CBMs composites were investigated.Experimental results revealed that two of AlZnO@CBMs composites exhibited superior bleaching efficiency(100%removal)and photocatalytic stability(three cycles)for 50μmol/L Methylene Blue(MB)contaminated water after 60 min irradiation in visible light at pH 6.5,0.7%H2O2,and 5 g/L inorganic salts.Under optimum conditions,AlZnO@CBMs nanocomposites were employed for the treatment of mixed dyestuffs composed of MB,Methyl Orange(MO),Astrazone Blue FRR(BB 69),and Rhodamine B(RhB)dyes under dark,ultraviolet,visible,and direct sunlight.For mixed dyestuffs,the AlZnO@G achieved the highest dye sorption capacity(60.91μmol dye stuffs/g)with kinetic rate 8.22×10^-3 min^-1 in 90 min via multi-layer physisorption(Freundlich isotherm)on graphene sheet.In additions,AlZnO@CN offered the highest photo-kinetic rate(Kphoto)of^54.1×10^-3 min^-1(93.8%after 60 min)under direct sunlight.Furthermore,the selective radical trapping experiment confirmed that the holes and oxidative superoxide radicals are crucial on dyes photodegradation pathway.Owing to their superior performance,AlZnO@G and AlZnO@CN nanocomposites can offer an effective in-situ solar-assisted adsorption/photocatalytic remediation of textile wastewater effluents.