Abstract:
Mixed oxides samples of copper and cobalt were prepared by
the reactions of ammonium carbonate and the metal nitrates from
aqueous solutions followed by calcinating at 650 "c. Similar process
was also adopted to get the copper oxide and cobalt oxides
separately. The individual oxides and the mixed oxide were
characterized by a wide range of experimental techniques viz.,
Energy Dispersion X-ray (EDX),UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy, X-ray
diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
Elemental analysis showed the presence of copper, cobalt and oxygen
in the mixed oxide with a composition of CUDACOO.4002.
UV-Vis and lR spectroscopic studies yielded useful information
on the structure of the matrices studied. IR spectral analysis of the
samples provided useful information on the identification of the
compounds. From the spectra the band characteristics of copper
oxide, cobalt oxide and MMO confirmed the presence of the
components in each substrate. X-ray scattering patterns of the oxides
and MMO oxide indicating the crystalline nahtre of the substrates.
Surface morphology obtained by SEM shows the surface of copper
oxide and cobalt oxides are sphere-shaped and granular respectively.
The sizes of the particles ranged from nm to pm leveL While SEM
observation for the MMOsurface seems to consist of agglomerates.
MMO were studied to examine the surface capacity; and doing
so it was used as an adsorbent for promoting the degradation of
textile dyestuffs. In that case, methylene blue (MB) and procion red
(PR)were attempted on the l\.1MOsurface.
The adsorption data showed that both the MBand PR dyes can
be adsorbed on the mixed oxide surface. But the extent of PR
adsorption is much higher than MB, suggesting the present MMO a
precise adsorbent for the PR removal.
The adsorption processes were also foUowed by studying the
isotherm of the adsorption on l\.1MO. The study showed very
consistent consequences.
Photolysis of dyestuffs was carried out as well. The extent of
dye removal under photolysis was found to be nearly identical to
that observed without photolysis, suggesting that the high surface
performance of the MMO is achievable without external force like
photolysis.
