Decomposition of Anthraquinone Vat Yellow 1 Using Zinc Oxide Photocatalyst

Abstract

Decomposition of anthraquinone Vat Yellow 1 in an aqueous solution was investigated for this study. Heterogeneous photocatalysis using zinc oxide photocatalyst in aqueous solution under UV and solar irradiation was proposed to decompose anthraquinone Vat Yellow 1. Decomposition of the dye was effective under both irradiations using the zinc oxide photocatalyst. The effects of zinc oxide dose and dye concentration on the decomposition of Vat Yellow 1 under UV irradiation were investigated to assess the optimum conditions. Decomposition efficiency of Vat Yellow 1 dye increased as zinc oxide amount increased and decreased as the initial dye concentration increased. The decomposition kinetics was established to follow first-order kinetics. A study on the presence of inorganic additives such as sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and sodium chloride (NaCl) was found to decrease the decomposition.