Photocatalytic oxidative removal of the organic pollutant from wastewater using recyclable Ag2O@CRA heterojunction photocatalyst

Abstract

The extracted ash from common water reeds locally available in Iraq was used as a cost-effective silica source for single-step synthesis of a heterojunction photocatalyst (Ag₂O@CRA) combining 9.75 % Ag₂O and a surface area of 99.849 m²/g. The Ag₂O@CRA photocatalyst was used to investigate methylene blue (MB) degradation which was eliminated at an initial MB concentration of 20 mg/L, Ag₂O@CRA dose of 0.1g/100 mL, pH of 7 after 60 min at visible light. This photocatalyst displayed excellent stability after five cycles with more than 91 % removal of MB dye. The ^⦁OH was the main radical involved in the MB degradation.