Magnetic zinc oxide/silica microbeads for the photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes

Mohammed Al-Sharabi; Daniele Baiocco; Benjamin Lobel; Olivier J. Cayre; Zhibing Zhang; Alexander F. Routh

doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.134169

Back

Magnetic zinc oxide/silica microbeads for the photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Magnetic zinc oxide/silica microbeads for the photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes

Mohammed Al-Sharabi, Daniele Baiocco, Benjamin Lobel, Olivier J. Cayre, Zhibing Zhang and Alexander F. Routh

Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects, Vol.695, 134169

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.134169

Files and links (1)

pdf

Published2.80 MBDownload View

CC BY V4.0, Open Access

Abstract

Azo dyes

Magnetic zinc oxide/silica microbeads

Methylene blue

Nanoparticles

Photocatalytic degradation

Wastewater treatment

Photocatalysis is a promising technique for the complete degradation of azo dyes that are present in wastewater. In this work, a new photocatalyst in the form of ZnO/Fe3O4/SiO2 hybrid microbeads was fabricated for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The microbeads were synthesised through self-assembly and subsequent agglomeration of nanoparticles within an aqueous phase of a water-in-oil emulsion template. Photocatalytic degradation experiments were conducted through exposure of a methylene blue solution to UV light. The hybrid microbeads performed better than ZnO powder at the same initial dye and ZnO concentration because of higher adsorption and degradation. The initial concentration of dye solution and catalyst dosage have a significant impact on the degradation. Higher degradation is seen with lower initial dye concentration and higher catalyst dosage. The presence of magnetic nanoparticles within the beads allows for their full recovery and reuse for degradation experiments. Complete degradation of dye was achieved using the new ZnO/Fe3O4/SiO2 microbeads. [Display omitted]

Details

Title: Magnetic zinc oxide/silica microbeads for the photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes
Authors/Creators: Mohammed Al-Sharabi - University of Cambridge
Daniele Baiocco - University of Birmingham
Benjamin Lobel - University of Leeds
Olivier J. Cayre - University of Leeds
Zhibing Zhang - University of Birmingham
Alexander F. Routh - University of Cambridge
Publication Details: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects, Vol.695, 134169
Publisher: Elsevier B.V
Identifiers: 991005681669607891
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Metrics

1 File views/ downloads

24 Record Views