Photocatalytic degradation of caffeine by ZnO-ZnAl2O4 nanoparticles derived from LDH structure. Issue 4 (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elhalil, A.; Elmoubarki, R.; Machrouhi, A.; Sadiq, M.; Abdennouri, M.; Qourzal, S.; Barka, N.
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental chemical engineering. Volume 5:Issue 4(2017:Dec.)
• Page Start: 3719
• Page End: 3726
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Pharmaceutical pollutants -- Layered double hydroxides -- Reconstruction -- Photocatalytic activity -- Caffeine -- Wastewater treatment; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Environmental aspects; Environmental engineering; Periodicals; 660.0286
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2017.07.037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-2929

Abstract

Highlights: Preparation of ZnO-ZnAl2 O4 mixed phases by calcination of Zn-Al-CO3 LDH precursors. Remarkable photocatalytic degradation performance of caffeine in aqueous solution. Crystallinity, adsorption and dispersion of active ZnO were the important factors. Abstract: In this research, ZnO-ZnAl2 O4 mixed phases were prepared by calcination of Zn-Al-CO3 layered double hydroxides (LDH) precursors. Firstly, a series of Zn-Al-CO3 LDH were synthesized at different Zn/Al molar ratios (r = 1, 3 and 5) and then calcined at different temperatures (300, 400, 500, 600, 800 and 1000 °C) for 6 h. The materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TGA/DTA, ICP-AES and TEM. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated for the degradation of caffeine as a model pharmaceutical pollutant in aqueous solution under UV irradiation. The effect of the Zn/Al molar ratio, calcination temperature and initial pH of aqueous solution was investigated. The experimental results show that the sample obtained from the molar ratio of 3 and calcined at 500 °C with a large capacity of adsorption obtained by reconstruction process was photocatalytically much higher than standard Degussa P-25 titanium dioxide.