Removal of styrene by the synthesized ZnO nanoparticlescoated on the activated carbon adsorbent in the presence of UVirradiation

Background: Volatile organic compounds are the major environmental pollutants causing adverseeffects on the human health and the environment, therefore, tremendous effort has been put towardeliminating these compounds.Methods: In this study, the effect of synthesized nanoparticles on the removal of styrene from gasphase by photocatalytic process under UV irradiation in the cylindrical photoreactor was studied. Theactivated carbon-zinc oxide (AC-ZnO) catalysts were prepared at different weight ratios (6%, 12%, and18%) of ZnO. The prepared catalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emissionscanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. The effects ofvarious parameters, such as concentrations of styrene, various weight percentage (wt%) of nanoparticles,and UV irradiation, were investigated. The efficiency of the AC-ZnO catalyst was determined based onits adsorption capacity, breakthrough time, and removal efficiency.Results: It was revealed that the photocatalytic removal efficiency of styrene was high in the presenceof both ZnO nanoparticle and AC under UV light. Under optimal conditions, the efficiency of UV/ACZnO18%, UV/AC-ZnO 12%, and UV/AC-ZnO 6% catalysts was 77%, 86%, and 83%, respectively. Byincreasing the concentration of input styrene, the photocatalytic removal efficiency was reduced, whilethe adsorption capacity of styrene increased.Conclusion: According to the results, the AC-ZnO 12% exhibited higher activity compared to otherphotocatalysts. Also, the amount of stabilized ZnO nanoparticles on the activated carbon affects theelimination rate of styrene.

Keywords:

Photocatalysis , Activated carbon , Styrene , Zinc oxide