Green synthesis of nano-MgO using lemon juice for amplified photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

Abstract

This study examines the photocatalytic activity of the green synthesized (using lemon juice) MgO nanoparticles under a halogen light for the degradation of Congo Red (CR). The characterization of the prepared sample was studied by applying Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). By applying XRD analysis, the crystallographic variables of the MgO NPs were determined and the crystallite size was obtained from a variety of formulas/models (Scherrer equation, Williamson-Hall model, Monshi-Scherrer model, Size-Strain Plot, Halder-Wagner model, etc). The crystallite size was found in a valid range of 4.62–99.03 nm. Photocatalytic degradation of Congo Red (CR) has been made under halogen light by considering a dye concentration of 20 ppm at 40 mL solution for 0.05 g of the catalyst sample. Operating conditions were fixed as neutral pH, 25 °C temperature, and 40 min exposure time of the halogen lamp.