Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants using SmFeO۳/CuO nanocomposite photocatalyst

Many hazardous chemical compounds including dyes and other toxic organicmaterials formed from a textile and clothing industry wastewater would bring about severepollution in the Earth's environment [۱,۲]. Several methods have so far been used for watertreatment including adsorption and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) [۳,۴]. In this work,hybrid nanocomposite SmFeO۳/CuO(۱۰wt%) photocatalyst was synthesized, characterized andits capability for RhB dye and phenol degradation was explored under the visible lightirradiation. The highest photocatalytic efficiency of ۶۵% was achieved under the visible lightirradiation for the degradation of ۸ mg/L RhB dye using ۰.۱۵ g SmFeO۳/CuO(۱۰wt%) catalyst atpH=۵. The photocatalytic activity was reached to ۱۰۰% using ۰.۰۵mL of H۲O۲ under the abovementionedoptimized conditions. Moreover, the optimum SmFeO۳/CuO(۱۰wt%) catalystillustrated ۹۳ and ۸۵% performances for the degradation of ۲۰ mg/L RhB dye and phenol inpresence of ۰.۰۵ mL H۲O۲ confirming the occurrence of both Fenton-like oxidation andphotocatalytic mechanisms. The trapping experiments proved that the hydroxide radicals had akey role in degradation of RhB over the SmFeO۳/CuO(۱۰wt%) nanocomposite photocatalyst.Finally, it could be suggested that the SmFeO۳/CuO(۱۰wt%) hybrid photocatalyst can findpotential applications in industrial water treatment processes due to it is a highly stable andactive sample.