Synthesis of graphene-metal oxide composites for photocatalytic degradation of textile dyes

Abstract

Textile is one of the fastest growing industries in Bangladesh. Textile dyeing industry consumes large quantities of water and produces large volumes of wastewater from different steps in the dyeing and finishing processes. The polluted effluent discharged from this sector into sewage or neighboring water receiving bodies is a cause of major environmental and health concern. Advanced technologies for wastewater treatment are required to eliminate pollution and may also increase pollutant destruction or separation processes, such as advanced oxidation methods (catalytic and photo catalytic oxidation), chemical precipitation, adsorption on various media, etc. Nanoparticles or Nano-composites with their high surface area and catalytic activity are most effective for dye degradation. That’s why Graphene-Oxide and Graphene Oxide-Metal Oxide nanocomposite was synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) analysis andX-ray powder diffraction (XRD). In the present study, Methylene Blue (basic textile dye) was selected as a model organic pollutant and its photocatalytic degradation was studied in the presence of synthesized Graphene-Oxide and Graphene Oxide-Metal Oxide nanocomposite under dark, sunlight and Ultra-violate light. Ultra-violate light condition gives better degradation of Methylene Blue (up to 93 %) than sunlight and dark. On the other hand from this study it also can be said that Graphene Oxide-Metal Oxide nanocomposite shows better degradation of Methylene Blue compared to Graphene-Oxide.

Keywords: Textile effluents, Graphene-Oxide, Synthesized Graphene Oxide-Metal Oxide, Photo degradation, Methylene Blue.