Color Removal of Azor A Dye in Aqueous Solution by ZnO and Hydrogen Peroxide Under Solar Irradiation

Abstract

Abstract ZnO nanoparticles was synthesized by sol gel process and investigated using XRD, FT-IR, SEM and AFM analysis. Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) have showed to be very effective in degradation of most pollutants in wastewaters. The effect of initial concentration for Azure A dye was studied for five concentrations from (1×10−5 M to 5×10−5 M). The photocatalytic degradation of the dye was observed spectrophotometically. Also, the study involved effect of initial dye concentration, hydrogen peroxide dosage, pH, temperature and photocatalyst dose under solar light. The study involved to find out the optimum operating conditions of the treatment processes. Generally it has been found that the rates of photodegradation of azure A dye was higher in presence of solar radiation and ZnO photocatalyst. Also, photocatalytic ZnO showed the importance with light lead to enhance the generation of hydroxyl radicals which drive the photo oxidation processes. The kinetic and the percentages of degradation were studied at different intervals for 60 min. The experimental results indicated that the maximum photodegradation 89% of Azor A dyes occurred with ZnO photocatalyst at acidic media. COD analysis of The photodegraded samples showed reduction in COD after 60 min.