Photocatalytic activity of Nd-doped ZnO for the degradation of C.I. Reactive Blue 4 in aqueous suspension

• Published in: Environmental progress 2009-07, Vol.28 (2), p.226-233
• Main Authors: Zhou, Y., Lu, S.X., Xu, W.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Catalysis; Catalytic reactions; Chemical engineering; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; nanoparticles; photocatalytic degradation; Pollution; Reactors; sol-gel method; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
• ISSN: 1944-7442; 1944-7450
• DOI: 10.1002/ep.10318

Nd‐doped ZnO nanoparticles with different Nd contents were synthesized and characterized by X‐ray power diffraction, UV–vis, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectra, and high‐resolution transmission electron microscope. The results revealed that the particle size of Nd‐doped ZnO is much smaller than that of pure ZnO, which is critical for enhancing the photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity of Nd‐doped ZnO with different Nd loading was compared with pure ZnO, and the effects of the solution pH in the degradation of C.I. Reactive Blue 4 were studied. It was observed that the rate of degradation of C.I. Reactive Blue 4 over Nd‐doped ZnO increases with increasing Nd loading up to 2.5 mol % and then decreases. The rate of degradation reaches a maximum value approximately at pH = 11 and then decreases. Among the catalyst studied, the 2.5 mol % Nd‐doped ZnO was the most active, and the degradation rate of C.I. Reactive Blue 4 could reach 91.25% in 90 min when the concentration of the catalyst was 0.1 g/L. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2009