Title: MgZnFeAlLDHs nanoarchitectonics for photocatalytic removal of some organic pollutants by using solar irradiation

Authors: C. Magda Puscasu; Gabriela Carja; Carmen Zaharia

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, 'Gheorghe Asachi' Technical University of Iasi-Romania, Dr. Docent D. Mangeron Blvd., No. 73, 700050, Iasi, Romania ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, 'Gheorghe Asachi' Technical University of Iasi-Romania, Dr. Docent D. Mangeron Blvd., No. 73, 700050, Iasi, Romania ' Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, 'Gheorghe Asachi' Technical University of Iasi-Romania, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Dr.Docent D.Mangeron Blvd., No. 73, 700050, Iasi, Romania

Abstract: A growing interest exists nowadays to develop new photocatalysts able to use the light energy for removing organic pollutants from wastewaters. This work reports the synthesis and characterisation of the MgZnFeAl layered double hydroxides (MgZnFeAl/LDHs) as novel photocatalysts for the degradation of two industrial dyes, Nylosan Navy (Nyl) and drimaren red (DR), using solar irradiation. The dye degradation pathway was rationalised using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The advantage of using LDHs consists mainly in the versatility of the brucite-like sheets composition which may allow the insertion of a tailored diversity of cations within the LDH layered network (e.g., Mg2+, Zn2+, and also Fe3+, Al3+). The LDHs materials can supply a good dispersion of the metal cations within the layers which may act as charge separation centres enhancing the photocatalyst efficiency. The results indicate that the photocatalytic degradation of dye is a function of the composition of anionic clay matrix. The highest catalytic efficiency was obtained for a composition of catalysts defined by the molar ratio of Mg:Zn:Fe:Al equal to 1.5:1.5:1:0.5.

Keywords: MgZnFeAl layered double hydroxides; UV-Vis spectroscopy; Nylosan Navy; Nyl; Drimaren Red; dye degradation performance; photocatalysts; magnesium; zinc; iron; aluminium; nanoarchitectonics; photocatalytic removal; organic pollutants; solar irradiation; nanotechnology; wastewater treatment; water pollution; industrial dyes; metal cations; anionic clay matrix.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2015.072239

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2015 Vol.51 No.3, pp.228 - 240

Received: 01 Aug 2014
Accepted: 14 Dec 2014

Published online: 06 Oct 2015 *

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