Photocatalysis of formaldehyde in the aqueous phase over ZnO/diatomite nanocomposite

Authors : REZA DARVISHI CHESHMEH SOLTANI, ALIREZA KHATAEE, MASUMEH MASHAYEKHI, MAHDI SAFARI

Pages : 402-411

View : 18 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In the present study, ZnO nanostructures were synthesized and immobilized on the surface of diatomite via a simple sonochemical method for the photocatalytic degradation of formaldehyde in the aqueous phase. The characterization of as-prepared ZnO/diatomite nanocomposite was carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SEM);, X-ray diffraction insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(XRD);, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FT-IR);. The photocatalysis of formaldehyde was favored at neutral pH. At a ZnO to diatomite ratio of 0.3, increasing the photocatalyst dosage from 0.2 to 1.5 g/L resulted in increasing the photocatalytic removal of formaldehyde from 37.51% to 88.05%. At a formaldehyde concentration of 100 mg/L, the complete removal of formaldehyde was attained within the reaction time of 50 min. A mineralization efficiency of 53% was achieved, thereby confirming a suitable mineralization of formaldehyde within the short reaction time of 60 min.
Keywords : Formaldehyde, immobilization, nanocatalyst, photocatalysis, ZnO nanostructures