Title: Photocatalytic removal of hazardous dye from water using nanostructured WO3

Authors: M.A. Gondal, K. Hayat, Mazen M. Khaled, Z.H. Yamani, Shakeel Ahmed

Addresses: Laser Research Laboratory, Physics Department, Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology (CENT), King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. ' Nanotechnology Laboratory, Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. ' Nanotechnology Laboratory, Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. ' Laser Research Laboratory, Physics Department, Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology (CENT), King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. ' Center for Refining & Petrochemicals, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Nanoparticles of WO3 were synthesised using precipitation method. A special photo-reactor was designed for water purification using local resources. Laser enhanced photo-degradation for efficient removal of poisonous substances like dye (alizarin yellow GG) present in waste water was carried out using as synthesised WO3 by irradiating with a 355 nm radiation generated from third harmonic of Nd:YAG laser. The effect of initial concentration of dye, catalyst concentration, and laser light intensity on removal efficiency of dye was investigated. Almost 100% degradation was achieved using nanostructured WO3 in short span of time which is not possible with microstructure WO3 catalysts and using conventional custom made setups. To the best of our knowledge, this is a first study of its kind where laser and nano particles WO3 have been utilised together for removal of the dye.

Keywords: wastewater treatment; photocatalysis; organic contaminants; hazardous dyes; tungsten oxide; nanophotocatalysts; laser applications; nanoparticles; nanotechnology; water purification; dye removal; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2011.038252

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2011 Vol.4 No.1, pp.53 - 63

Published online: 13 Mar 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article