Synthesis of novel ZnS@MnFe۲O۴@NaX ternary nanocomposite sonocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) organic dye

This work focuses mainly on the degradation reaction of methylene blue (MB) organic dye in the presence of ZnS@MnFe۲O۴@NaX ternary nanocomposite sonocatalyst for the first time. For this purpose, ZnS and MnFe۲O۴ nanoparticles were successfully immobilized within the zeolite NaX framework by the hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized ZnS@MnFe۲O۴@NaX zeolite nanocomposite was characterized applying FESEM, EDAX, FTIR, XRD and VSM analyses. Several factors, including irradiation time, initial dye concentration, process type, catalyst dosage, organic dye and type H۲O۲ concentration have been investigated to achieve the maximum sonocatalytic efficiency. In the presence of ۱۵۰ mg/L of ZnS@MnFe۲O۴@NaX, ۲۵ mg/L of dye, and ۴ mM of H۲O۲, the sonocatalytic degradation efficiency attained ۹۸.۸% for MB after contact time of ۶۰ min. The hydroxyl radicals (.OHs) were distinguished as the main reactive oxidative species on the degradation of MB under US irradiation. Besides, the reproducibility of the ZnS@MnFe۲O۴@NaX sonocatalyst was studied, which proved that it can be recycled up to five cycles with almost trivial loss of catalytic performance. In addition, the sonodegradation of MB via the ZnS@MnFe۲O۴@NaX zeolite sonocatalyst in the presence of US/H۲O۲ system displays a great performance to evaluate highly treat of organic pollutants from effluents.

Keywords:

ZnS@MnFe۲O۴@NaX , Zeolite , Nanocomposite , Methylene blue (MB) , Degradation