Photocatalytic Degradation of Malachite Green (MG) Dye Under UV Light Irradiation by Zr/CeO۲ Nanocomposite

Textile industries has a significant impact on the environment due to produce of huge expending of synthetic dyes. Besides, due to large consumption of water and large amounts of processed dye effluents, it is necessary to treat of such wastewaters. Malachite green is an organic compound that is used as a dye for silk, leather, and paper and is carcinogenic, mutagenic, chromosomes breaker and toxic to mammals. In this research, Zr/CeO۲ nanocomposite was synthesized via ultrasonic and was characterized by FTIR, XRD, FESEM, EDS, and TEM, UV-Vis, PL and DRS techniques. Then, efficiency of synthesized Zr/CeO۲ nanocomposite was studied for photocatalytic degradation of malachite green (MG) dye under UV light irradiation (۳۰۰ watt). However, effect of Zr/CeO۲ nanocomposite dosage, initial pH of solution, initial malachite green concentration and irradiation time was investigated on photocatalytic degradation of malachite green dye. Results show that malachite green dye degradation was achieved equilibrium within ۴۵ min. According to the results, ۸۰.۱۸% of malachite green degradation was obtained at [MG]=۲۰ mg/L, Zr/CeO۲ dosage=۰.۰۵g /۵۰mL, pH =۱۰ and irradiation time = ۴۵ min conditions. Also, the kinetic of photocatalytic degradation ofmalachite green was investigated and results revealed that photocatalytic degradation of malachite greenis obeyed pseudo-second order kinetic model. Thermodynamic studies were calculated for thephotocatalytic degradation of malachite green by Zr/CeO۲ nanocomposite and the results indicatedexothermic nature and non-spontaneity of the process. Overall, as a results Zr/CeO۲ nanocomposite hasa great potential to photocatalytic degradation of malachite green from aqueous solutions under UV light.