ZnO/NaX zeolite composite for basic red 46 degradation: a coupled adsorption–photocatalysis approach

Industrial effluents from textile, tanning, and printing industries often contain synthetic dyes that are recalcitrant to biodegradation. In this study, we prepared and characterized “ZnO/NaX zeolite” composite and evaluated its performance for the removal of Basic Red 46 (BR46) through a combined “adsorption/photocatalysisuns” under solar irradiation. The physical and chemical properties of the prepared samples were investigated by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and FT-IR spectroscopy. The influence of operational parameters namely the catalyst content (0.1–1 g/L), pH of the solution (48) and initial BR 46 concentration (5–40 mg/L) on the photodegradation efficiency was studied. The maximum dye removal was observed at pH ~ 7, for an BR 46 concentration of 20 mg/L, using 1 g/L of “ZnO/NaX Zeolite”. Maximum BR46 degradation under sunlight was studied was achieved about 96% at 20 mg/L of BR46 dye, 1 g/L catalyst content and pH of 7 within 180 min of contact time. The photocatalytic degradation kinetics of BR 46 is well described by a first order, in accordance with the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model (k_app = 0.0011 min⁻¹). The reusability of the predicted catalyst was also investigated. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of “ZnO/NaX zeolite” composites for the solar-assisted treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater and open avenues for broader environmental applications.