Nano ZnO synthesis by modified sol gel method and its application in heterogeneous photocatalytic removal of phenol from water

Khizar Hayat, M. A. Gondal, Mazen M. Khaled, Shakeel Ahmed, Ahsan M. Shemsi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

231 Scopus citations

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by precipitation and modified sol gel methods. The influence of calcination temperature on morphology and crystallite size of ZnO was studied by varying temperature from 400 to 700 °C. The nano-structured ZnO particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and tranmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photo catalytic activity of as-prepared ZnO was evaluated by degradation of phenol under UV laser irradiation. The Photocatalytic degradation (PCD) efficiency of ZnO was found to decrease with the increase in calcination temperature due to agglomeration of particles and the increase in particle size. In addition to the effect of calcination temperature, the influence of various other parameters such as photocatalyst concentration, initial pH and the initial phenol concentration was also investigated to achieve the maximum PCD of phenol. The operational parameters show the expected influence regarding the efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation process. The results follow the pseudo-first order rate kinetics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)122-129
Number of pages8
JournalApplied Catalysis A: General
Volume393
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Feb 2011

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The support by King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals through projects 08-NAN93-4 is gratefully acknowledged. One of the authors (Khizar Hayat) is thankful to KFUPM for graduate assistantship.

Keywords

  • Calcination temperature
  • Heterogeneous photocatalysis
  • Laser applications
  • Nano zinc oxide
  • Phenol degradation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Process Chemistry and Technology

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