Photocatalytic degradation of Direct Blue 14 by Polyaniline/CdS nanocomposite

There are different types of pollutants in water, soil and air that have harmful effects on human, plants and animals’ health and affect the eco-environment. One of the major environmental pollutants is chromatic wastewater containing chemicals. The presence of dye in receiver water prevents light infiltration and causes eutrophication phenomenon that disturbs the photosynthesis process and inhibits the growth of aquatic organisms. In addition, studies have shown that dyes used in various industries have carcinogenic, mutagenicity and allergenicity properties.1 Currently, the application of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the removal of contaminants has a special place, especially from aqueous media.2 Photocatalytic processes are efficient advanced oxidation processes to remove dye pollutants that play a role by a semiconductor photocatalyst and an energetic light source.3 In this study, the role of polyaniline/cadmium sulfide (PANI/CdS) nanocomposite was evaluated as a photocatalyst for Direct Blue 14 (DB 14) dye removal from aqueous solutions. Experiments were designed using response surface methodology (RSM). Figure (1) shows the photocatalytic degradation of DB14 by PANI/CdS as a function of initial concentration of DB14-pH and PANI/CdS amount-irradiation time.

Keywords:

Polyaniline , Cadmium sulfide , Direct Blue 14 , Photocatalyst