Photocatalytic Activities, Kinetics and Adsorption Isotherm Studies of CeO2 Nanoparticles Synthesized via Low Temperature Combustion Method

Abstract

Background: We synthesized cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles (NPs) via green synthesis method mediated with Rajma seeds powder as a fuel and cerium nitrate as an oxidizer. Objective: The obtained cerium oxide nanoparticles are used to study the various environ mental appilications. Methods: The achieved CeO2 nanoparticles are tested using PXRD (Powder X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), electron microscopic studies including SEM, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy. Formation of agglomerated cubic phased CeO2 nanoparticles were confirmed from both PXRD and SEM. Results: The average crystallite size of CeO2 nanoparticles was found to be 38 nm calculated from highly intense peak using Debye-Scherer’s formula. The characteristic Ce-O stretching was confirmed by FTIR and Raman studies. CeO2 nanoparticles are promising material for the organic dye degradation. Photocatalytic activities evaluation under various parameters like sunlight, UV light and variation of PH, catalytic dosage etc. CeO2 nanoparticles exhibit highly enhanced photo degradation of Methylene Blue dye. Kinetics and isotherm models of Photocatalysis were studied. Conclusion: We have prepared CeO2 nanoparticles by low-temperature combustion technique using Rajma germinated and Rajma non- germinated seeds as fuel. The XRD pattern confirms the formation of cubicphase CeO2 nanoparticles. The existence of Ce-O vibration is confirmed by FTIR and Raman spectra of the CeO2 nanoparticles. The UV-Visible spectra of CeO2 nanoparticles reveal the absorbance band range at 350-390 nm. SEM images of CeO2 nanoparticles indicates the agglomerated with irregular morphology. CeO2 nanoparticles are favorable material for the organic Methylene blue dye degradation. The different amount of the Rajma influences improved Photodegradation of cerium oxide nanoparticles was characteristics of slight crystal dimension, new superficial deficiencies, more band hole and ability to make smaller the electron-hole pair rearrangement. Adsorption kinetics results show that adsorption of MB over cerium oxide follows pseudo-first-order and second-order kinetics. Using the Langmuir isotherm, Freundlich isotherm, maximum adsorption capacity is calculated. Thus it can be used as attractively recoverable nano adsorbent for the removal of MB dye by adsorption technique from effluent water.