Rathab Ali Ahmed; Ola Hamad Salah; Haider Falih Shamikh Al-Saedi; Manal Morad Karim; Shahad Abdulhadi Khuder; Anaheed Hussein Kareem; Fathi Jihad Hammady
Abstract
In this study, the prepared, characterization, and photo-catalytic performance of zinc oxide/activated carbon (ZnO/AC) nanocomposites prepared via hydrothermal process to be applied ...
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In this study, the prepared, characterization, and photo-catalytic performance of zinc oxide/activated carbon (ZnO/AC) nanocomposites prepared via hydrothermal process to be applied for advanced oxidative process (AOPs). The ZnO/AC nanocomposites was characterized via field emission scanning electron microscopes (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) analyses. Different parameters were utilized to achieve best conditions including, weight of nanocomposite, and concentration of Riboflavin drug. Likewise, the photo-degradation appear high efficiency and activity when reused 5 cycles and confirm results that this photo-catalyst has promising prospects and a high ability to remove pollution from aqueous solution. Furthermore, AC can be a realistic and affordable re-placement for pricey noble metals. Photocatalytic activities of the catalytic adsorbents are used as model pollutant (Riboflavin drug) under UV irradiation. ZnO/AC nanocomposites showed excellent photo-catalytic activity (~99% degradation of drug in 60 min) compared with that of bare ZnO NPs and AC. In addition, a recycle or reused experiment demonstrated the best stability of the nanocomposite; the ratio photo-degradation of ZnO/AC reached last more 70% after five cycle successive runs and possessed strong photo-catalytic ability. The improve photo-catalytic activities may be related to the effects of the relatively high surface area. The best data between the studied photo-catalysts appear the drug removal efficiency of ∼92% in 1 h under UV light irradiation.
