Investigation of photocatalytic deninitrification of ZnO:Cu photocatalyst

ZnO:Cu photocatalyst is prepared with reacting media namely water method and also wet impregnation method is used for precipitation of Cu on ZnO nano particles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used for determination size of ZnO:Cu particles. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) was used to study nanoparticles morphology. Prepared ZnO:Cu nanoparticles were contacted with ammonium nitrate aqueous solution (50 mg.L-1) and irradiated with UV. Results indicated that ZnO:Cu photocatalyst has high photocalytic activity to degradation of nitrate from aqueous solution. The results showed that complete degradation was achieved after 2.5 hr.

Keywords:

ZnO , Cu , Photocatalytic activity , Nitrate removal