Fe3+ @ ZnO/polyester based solar photocatalytic membrane reactor for abatement of RB5 dye

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2020-02, Vol.246, p.119010, Article 119010
• Main Authors: Ashar, Ambreen, Bhatti, Ijaz Ahmad, Ashraf, Munir, Tahir, Asif Ali, Aziz, Humera, Yousuf, Maryam, Ahmad, Muhammad, Mohsin, Muhammad, Bhutta, Zeeshan Ahmad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fe3+ @ZnO nanodiscs; Functionalized polyester; Photocatalytic membrane reactor; Response surface methodology
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119010

Heterogeneous photocatalysis, employing semiconductor metal oxides, especially at nano scale is a promising technique to mortify the dye residues from effluent. The photocatalysts on doping with a suitable dopant can be modified to enhance the photocatalytic activity. In this study, undoped and series of Fe3+ doped ZnO have been grown on polyester fabric through low temperature hydrothermal method to generate photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs). The material grown on the surface of fabric was characterized by XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM, STEM, AFM, XPS, ICP-MS, DRS and PL studies. For ZnO/PMR and Fe3+@ZnO/PMR photocatalytic activity was determined and examined to increase for Fe3+@ZnO/PMR in the solar region due to the reduction of band gap from 3.2 to 2.6 eV on Fe3+doping. The surface properties of PMRs were also determined by zeta potential and contact angle. The characterized ZnO and Fe3+@ZnO nano discs based PMRs have been used to degrade RB5 reactive dye on irradiating with artificial sunlight (D65, 72 W). The reaction parameters i.e. initial dye and oxidant concentration, pH and irradiation time have been optimized by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The extent of dye degradation has been evaluated by UV/vis spectroscopy and FTIR. The maximum degradation achieved was 88.89% for ZnO/PMR and 98.34% for Fe3+@ZnO PMR in 180 min. The photocatalytic efficiency of Fe3+@ZnO PMR was investigated for 15 batches, with a slight gradual decrease in activity after eight batches. [Display omitted] •Development of visible light driven photocatalytic membrane reactors.•Doping of ZnO with Fe+3 to reduce bandgap for solar light harvesting.•Degradation of dyes to treat industrial effluent.