Photocatalytic Degradation of Malachite Green Dye by Using Microwave Synthesized ZnO and Sr Doped ZnO Nanoparticles: A Comparative Study

In this work we have studied the effect of photocatalytic degradation of malachite green dye by using Zinc oxide nanoparticles and Strontium doped Zinc oxide nanoparticles. The nanoparticle has been synthesized by microwave assisted co-precipitation method (Piper nigrum seed extract). The crystallite size and formation of nanoparticles were confirmed by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results. Ultra violet visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy reveals the band gap of synthesized nanoparticles and the morphology of the nanoparticles have been examined by using scanning electron microscopy analysis. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of both the nanoparticles has been evaluated by degradation of malachite green dye (synthetic). For the removal efficiency dye concentration, pH, catalyst concentration has been taken into account. From the results it has been found that ZnO–Sr nanocomposites exhibits higher removal efficiency of 90% than ZnO nanoparticles (64.3%) at initial dye concentration of 20 mg/L, catalyst dosage of 100 mg and at 6 pH. From this work it has been found that doping of Strontium into Zinc oxide nanoparticles increases the efficiency of ZnO.

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