Document Details

Document Type : Article In Journal 
Document Title :
Enhanced photocatalytic activity of V2O5–ZnO composites for the mineralization of nitrophenols
تحسين نشاط التحفيز الضوئى لأكسيد الزنك من اجل تعدين النيتروفينول
 
Subject : Enviromental sciences 
Document Language : English 
Abstract : In an effort to enhance the photocatalytic activity of ZnO in natural sunlight, V2O5–ZnO nanocomposites were synthesized by co-precipitation technique. The characterization of the synthesized powders by FESEM, XRD and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) revealed that the both V2O5 and ZnO retain their individual identity in the composites but the increasing concentration of V2O5 affect the particle size of ZnO. As estimated by photoluminescence spectroscopy, in comparison to pure ZnO, the presence of V2O5 significantly suppressed the charge carrier’s recombination process. The photocat-alytic activity of the synthesized powders was evaluated for the degradation/mineralization of three potential nitrophenol pollutants (2-nitrophenol, 4-nitrophenol, and 2,4-dinitrophenol). The synthesized composites showed significantly higher activity for both degradation and mineralization of nitrophenols compared to pure ZnO. The progress of the degradation process was evaluated by HPLC while minerali-zation was monitored by TOC analysis. The degradation/mineralization route was estimated by identify-ing the intermediates using GC–MS. The correlation of the experimental data revealed that the position of NO2 group in 2- and 4-nitrophenol significantly affect the rate of degradation. The identification of hydro-xyl group containing intermediates in the degradation of 4-NP confirmed the formation and vital role of hydroxyl radicals in degradation process. The rapid mineralization of nitrophenol substrates pointed out superoxide anions as major contributors in degradation and mineralization process. The assessment of the release of relevant ions (NO2􀀀,NO3􀀀, ONOO􀀀 and NH4) during the degradation process assisted in iden-tifying the plausible interaction sites. 
ISSN : 0045-6535 
Journal Name : Chemosphere 
Volume : 117 
Issue Number : 1 
Publishing Year : 1435 AH
2014 AD 
Article Type : Article 
Added Date : Monday, August 4, 2014 

Researchers

Researcher Name (Arabic)Researcher Name (English)Researcher TypeDr GradeEmail
M. AslamAslam, M. Researcher  
Iqbal M.I. IsmailIsmail, Iqbal M.I.Researcher  
T. AlmeelbiAlmeelbi, T. Researcher  
Numan SalahSalah, Numan Researcher  
S. ChandrasekaranChandrasekaran, S. Researcher  
A. HameedHameed, A. Researcher afmuhammad@kau.edu.sa

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