Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic Application of zno-ag3po4-fe2o3 ternary nanocomposite

Abstract

In this work, different types of photocatalysts, single systems; ZnO, Ag3PO4, and ternary systems with different molar ratio of ZnO-Ag3PO4-Fe2O3 were prepared by precipitation method using precursor solutions of Fe2O3, ZnO, and Ag3PO4. Analysis of crystal structure, energy band gap, functional groups and optical properties of the photocatalysts were characterized by using XRD, FTIR and UV-Visible spectrophotometer instruments respectively. The effects of initial dye concentration, and catalyst load, pH of solution and temperature were investigated. Photocatalytic degradation activities of the synthesized nanocomposites under visible light irradiation have been evaluated in the reduction of aqueous methylene blue (MB) dye solution and real sewage samples collected from Haile Garment Textile Industry. ZnO-Ag3PO4-Fe2O3 (80:10:10) ternary nanocomposite photocatalyst exhibited the most effective degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB) dye and real sewage sample at pH= 6, 10 mg/L dye concentration and 140 mg catalyst dose under 50 o C 91% and 72% dye was degraded after 150 minute under visible light irradiation.