Objective:
ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using wet impregnation method, and
activated carbon from rice straw (RS) prepared through chemical route.
Methods:
The nano-composites ZnO-AC series were prepared with different ZnO:AC ratio of 10,
20, 50, and 70% to optimize the zinc oxide nanoparticles used. The obtained composites were
characterized by FE-SEM, XRD, SBET, and optical techniques then used for the photo-degradation
of Malachite green dye (MG) under visible light.
Results:
It was found that 10ZnO-AC exhibited excellent visible light photo-catalytic performance.
The ·OH radicals’ formation is matching with photo-activity of the prepared composites.
The photo-degradation efficiency of MG increased from 63% to 93%, when the 10ZnO-AC photocatalyst
amount was increased from 0.5 to 6 g/L.
Conclusion:
The GC-MS technique was used to analyze the intermediates formed; up to 15 kinds
of chemicals were identified as the degradation products.
