Development of new zinc silver phosphate and cellulose derived from cigarette butt–based photocatalysts for dye degradation

Abstract

This study explores the synthesis and characterization of silver zinc phosphate (AgZnPO₄) and its nanocomposite with cellulose fibers (CF) extracted from cigarette butts for photocatalytic applications. The materials were synthesized using the coprecipitation method. Characterization techniques including XRD, SEM–EDX, FTIR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed the successful formation of the desired compounds. The photocatalytic effect of AgZnPO₄ was examined by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) under UV irradiation. The AgZnPO₄ photocatalyst demonstrated a degradation efficiency of 99.8% for MO compared to only 67.31% for MB after 107 min of UV exposure. Notably, the AgZnPO₄/CF50% wt nanocomposite exhibited superior performance, achieving degradation efficiency of 98% for MB within 47 min of UV exposure, a 50% improvement over pure AgZnPO₄. The kinetic studies revealed that the degradation processes followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The incorporation of CF notably improved the photocatalytic efficiency and reduced the required UV exposure time from 107 to only 47 min. This research demonstrates the potential of cellulose-based nanocomposites in enhancing the photocatalytic activity of metal phosphates for environmental remediation applications, offering both improved performance and energy efficiency.