Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

In situ crystallization of ZnAl2O4/ZnO nanocomposite on alumina granule for photocatalytic purification of wastewater

  • Published:
Research on Chemical Intermediates Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

ZnAl2O4/ZnO nanocomposites with different ZnO (20, 30, and 40 mol%) concentrations and coated samples on supports were successfully prepared through combustion synthesis assisted by microwave. Two catalyst supports (α-Al2O3 granules and γ-Al2O3 granules) in the forming of granules were used by sintering. The obtained products after calcination were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), dynamic light scattering (DLS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Samples were studied by degradation of methyl orange (MO) under UV irradiation in a photoreactor to evaluate the photocatalytic performance. Degradation using a ZnAl2O4/ZnO (30 mol%) nanocomposite reached 97.1 %. γ-Al2O3 granules have demonstrated considerable difference in photocatalytic efficiency compared to α-Al2O3 granules. Therefore, the coated granules were able to be employed for the removal of dyes from wastewater, having desirable repeatability and reusability. Our results may initiate large-scale production of coated layers with promising photocatalytic performances.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Y.S. Cao, J.X. Chen, L. Huang, Y.L. Wang, Y. Hou, Y.T. Lu, Photocatalytic degradation of chlorfenapyr in aqueous suspension of TiO2. J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. 233, 61–66 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. S.F. Chen, W. Zhao, S.J. Zhang, W. Liu, Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity of N-containing ZnO powder. Chem. Eng. J. 148, 263–269 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. R.Y. Hong, J.H. Li, L.L. Chen, D.Q. Liu, H.Z. Li, Y. Zheng, J. Ding, Synthesis, surface modification and photocatalytic property of ZnO nanoparticles. Powder Technol. 189, 426–432 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. M. Li, Z.L. Hong, Y.N. Fang, F.Q. Huang, Synergistic effect of two surface coplexes in enhancing visible-light photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide. Mater. Res. Bull. 43, 2179–2186 (2008)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. M.N. Chong, B. Jin, C.W.K. Chow, Ch. Saint, Recent developments in photocatalytic water treatment technology: a review. Water Res. 44, 2997–3027 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. E.L. Foletto, S. Battiston, J.M. Simoes, M.M. Bassaco, L.S. Fagundes Pereira, E.M. de Moraes Flores, E.I. Muller, Synthesis of ZnAl2O4 nanoparticles by different routes and the effect of its pore size on the photocatalytic process. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 163, 29–33 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. A.B. Prevot, C. Baiocchi, M.C. Brussino, E. Pramauro, P. Savarino, V. Augugliaro, G. Marci, L. Palmisano, Photocatalytic degradation of acid blue 80 in aqueous solutions containing TiO2 suspensions. Environ. Sci. Technol. 35, 971–976 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. M.T. Tsai, Y.S. Chang, I.B. Huang, B.Y. Pan, Luminescent and structural properties of manganese-doped zinc aluminate spinel nanocrystals. Ceram. Int. 39, 3691–3697 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. A.K. Kushwaha, Vibrational, elastic properties and sound velocities of zinc aluminate Spinel. Comput. Mater. Sci. 69, 505–509 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Z. Zhu, X. Li, Q. Zhao, Sh Liu, X. Hu, G. Chen, Facile solution synthesis and characterization of porous cubic-shaped superstructure of ZnAl2O4. Mater. Lett. 65, 194–197 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. K.J. Byeon, J.Y. Cho, H.B. Jo, H. Lee, Fabrication of high-brightness GaN-based light-emitting diodes via thermal nanoimprinting of ZnO-nanoparticle-dispersed resin. Appl. Surf. Sci. 346, 354–360 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. D. Mondelaers, G. Vanhoyland, J. Dhaen, M.K. Van Bael, J. Mullens, L.C. Van Poucke, Chemical solution deposition of ZnO thin films by an aqueous solution gel precursor route. J. Sol-Gel. Sci. Technol. 26, 523–526 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. X. Liu, G. Wang, A. Ng, F. Liu, Y.H. Ng, Y.H. Leung, A.B. Djurišić, W.K. Chan, Towards low temperature processed ZnO dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl Surf Sci Part B 357, 2169–2175 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. J. Yu, G. Dai, B. Huang, Fabrication and characterization of visible-light-driven plasmonic photocatalyst Ag/AgCl/TiO2 nanotube arrays. J. Phys. Chem. C 133, 16394–16401 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. L. Zhang, J. Yana, M. Zhou, Y. Yang, Y.N. Liu, Fabrication and photocatalytic properties of spheres-in spheres ZnO/ZnAl2O4 composite hollow microspheres. Appl. Surf. Sci. 268, 237–245 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. S.B. Sun, X.T. Chang, X.J. Li, Z.J. Li, Synthesis of N-doped ZnO nanoparticles with improved photocatalytical activity. Ceram. Int. 39, 5197–5203 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. R. Thinesh Kumar, N. Clament Sagaya Selvam, C. Ragupathi, L. John Kennedy, J. JudithVijay, Synthesis, characterization and performance of porous Sr(II)-added ZnAl2O4 nanomaterials for optical and catalytic applications. Powder Technol. 224, 147–154 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. M. Ahmad, E. Ahmed, Y. Zhang, N.R. Khalid, J. Xu, M. Ullah, Zh Hong, Preparation of highly efficient Al-doped ZnO photocatalyst by combustion synthesis. Curr. Appl. Phys. 13, 697–704 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. A.A. Ali Ahmed, Z.A. Talib, M.Z. bin Hussein, A. Zakaria, Improvement of the crystallinity and photocatalytic property of zinc oxide as calcination product of Zn–Al layered double hydroxide. J. Alloy. Compd. 539, 154–160 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. X.Y. Chen, J.H. Li, Z.H. Sun, X. Fang, Z.P. Wei, F. Fang, X.Y. Chu, S. Li, X.H. Wang, The formation and acceptor related emission behavior of ZnO/ZnAl2O4 core–shell structures. J. Alloy. Compd. 571, 114–117 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. R. Huo, Y. Kuang, Zh Zhao, F. Zhang, S. Xu, Enhanced photocatalytic performances of hierarchical ZnO/ZnAl2O4 microsphere derived from layered double hydroxide precursor spray-dried microsphere. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 407, 17–21 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. X.F. Zhao, L. Wang, X. Xu, X.D. Lei, S.L. Xu, F.Z. Zhang, Fabrication and photocatalytic properties of novel ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposite with ZnAl2O4 dispersed inside ZnO network. AIChE J. 58, 573–582 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. R.K. Sharma, R. Ghose, Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline zinc aluminate spinel powder by sol–gel method. Ceram. Int. 40, 3209–3214 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. M. Heshmat, H. Abdizadeh, M.R. Golobostanfard, sonochemical assisted synthesis of ZnO nanostructured thin films prepared by sol–gel method. Procedia Mater Sci 11, 486–490 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Z. Zhu, Q. Zhao, X. Li, Y. Li, C. Sun, G. Zhang, Y. Cao, Photocatalytic performances and activities of ZnAl2O4 nanorods loaded with Ag towards toluene. Chem. Eng. J. 203, 43–51 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. J. Wen, Y. Hu, K. Zhu, Y. Li, J. Song, High-temperature-mixing hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanocrystals with wide growth window. Curr. Appl. Phys. 14, 359–365 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. S. Muthukumaran, R. Gopalakrishnan, Structural, FTIR and photoluminescence studies of Cu doped ZnO nanopowders by co-precipitation method. Opt. Mater. 34, 1946–1953 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. C.T. Alves, A.S. de Oliveira, S.A.V. Carneiro, R.C.D. Santos, S.A.B. Vieira de Melo, H.M.C. Andrade, F.C. Marques, E.A. Torres, Transesterification of waste frying oils using ZnAl2O4 as heterogeneous catalyst. Procedia Eng 42, 1928–1945 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. R. Ianos, R. Lazau, I. Lazau, C. Pacurariu, Chemical oxidation of residual carbon from ZnAl2O4 powders prepared by combustion synthesis. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 32, 1605–1611 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. M. Ranjbar, M.S. Niasari, S.M.H. Mashkani, Microwave synthesis and characterization of spinel-type zinc aluminate nanoparticles. J. Inorg. Organomet. Polym. 22, 1093–1100 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. P. Müller, M. Seeger, J. Tomas, Compression and breakage behavior of γ-Al2O3 granules. Powder Technol. 237, 125–133 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. M. Shafiee Afarani, A. Summit, E. Bahadori Yekta, Synthesis of alumina granules by high shear mixer granulator: processing and sintering. Powder Technol. 237, 32–40 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. E. Khaksar, M. Shafiee Afarani, A. Samimi, In situ solvothermal crystallization of TiO2 nanostructure on alumina granules for photocatalytic wastewater treatment. J. Mater. Eng. Perform. (2013). doi:10.1007/s11665-013-0723-8

    Google Scholar 

  34. H. Tong, Z.H. Deng, Y.G. Cao, Effects of post-annealing on structural, optical and electrical properties of Al-doped ZnO thin films. Appl. Surf. Sci. 257, 4906–4911 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. M. Arbi, N. Benramdane, Z. Kebbab, R. Miloua, F. Chiker, R. Khenata, First principles calculations of structural, electronic and optical properties of zinc aluminum oxide. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 15, 301–307 (2012)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Ch. Han, M.Q. Yang, B. Weng, Y.J. Xu, Improving the photocatalytic activity and anti-photocorrosion of semiconductor ZnO by coupling with versatile carbon. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 16, 16891–16903 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. B. Weng, M.Q. Yang, N. Zhang, Y.J. Xu, Toward the enhanced photoactivity and photostability of ZnO nanospheres via intimate surface coating with reduced graphene oxide. J Mater Chem A 2, 9380–9389 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Engineering, Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

    Mozhgan Shahmirzaee

  2. Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

    Mahdi Shafiee Afarani

  3. Department of Inorganic Pigments and Glazes, Institute for Color Science and Technology (ICST), Tehran, Iran

    Amir Masoud Arabi

  4. Department of Materials Engineering and Metallurgy, Faculty of Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Ahmad Iran Nejhad

Authors
  1. Mozhgan Shahmirzaee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mahdi Shafiee Afarani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Amir Masoud Arabi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ahmad Iran Nejhad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mozhgan Shahmirzaee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shahmirzaee, M., Shafiee Afarani, M., Arabi, A.M. et al. In situ crystallization of ZnAl2O4/ZnO nanocomposite on alumina granule for photocatalytic purification of wastewater. Res Chem Intermed 43, 321–340 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-016-2624-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-016-2624-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation