A fast and green photodegradation approach based on functionalized quantum dots for removal of anthracene from aqueous media

The impact of pollution is highest due to oil spreads in marine and terrestrial ecosystem, which are a mixture of pollutants like petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals etc. [1]. In this research, an efficient UV-driven photodegradation approach based on pure zinc sulfide (ZnS) quantum dots (QDs) functionalized with l-cysteine was presented for photodecolorization of anthracene as an industrial pollutant. ZnS QDs were prepared using a water-based chemical precipitation method, at room temperature [2]. Various techniques including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV–Vis spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectroscopy were performed for characterization of as-prepared QD samples. After characterization, ultra-small (<1 nm) QDs were used as green nanophotocatalysts for the removal of anthracene from aqueous solutions. After optimization the affecting experimental parameters, high efficiency for anthracene removal was achieved using low amount of ZnS QDs (6 mg) at alkaline pH solutions (10) after 15 min ultraviolet irradiation to 50 mL sample solution . Reusability, kinetic model and possible mechanism were also investigated. The results show reasonable reusability after at-least five cycles