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Hybrid clay-based materials for organic dyes and pesticides elimination in water

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials for catalytic, photoelectrochemical and sensor applications
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Abstract

Natural clay, extracted from Cameroon, was modified by ion exchange to produce 4 different clays. These latter were modified with photocatalytic semiconductor like ZnO to produce efficient hybrid materials for pollutant removal in water. ZnO was synthesized by the soft sol–gel chemistry method. The results showed that the clay belonged to the smectite family and was composed of different crystalline phases. When the hybrid materials were produced, mix crystalline patterns were obtained with both smectite and ZnO wurtzite phases. The ICP-AES analysis showed that similar ratio between ZnO and clay were obtained for the 4 hybrid materials (30 wt% of ZnO and 70 wt% of clay). The SEM observation of the samples had shown that the hybrid materials had the clay structure as skeletal structure (sheet like structure) with the ZnO spherical materials grafted at the surface, giving a good exposure to light to maintain photocatalytic property. Then, the pollutant removal property of the samples was evaluated on three different model pollutants: p-nitrophenol (PNP), Malachite green (MG) and Diamant brilliant violet (DBV). On PNP, no adsorption was observed, and photocatalytic property was necessary to eliminate this molecule. With the best hybrid material (Clay/Cu2+/ZnO), 80% of PNP degradation was observed after 6 h of illumination. On MG and DBV, similar behavior was observed. Indeed, the clays and three out of four hybrid materials adsorbed completely both pollutant after 2 h of contact. Only pure ZnO and Clay/ZnO needed illumination to degrade completely both molecules. This study showed the possibility to obtain very efficient hybrid materials for pollutant removal in water with the use of inexpensive natural clay modified with a low amount of photocatalytic material (ZnO around 30 wt.%).

Graphical abstract

In this work, hybrid clay-ZnO materials are synthesized and produce a specific morphology with a clay skeleton and the ZnO nanoparticles at the surface. These materials are very efficient for pollutant removal in water thanks to the combine processes of adsorption and photocatalysis.

Highlight

  • Natural clay was modified by ion exchange to produce 4 different clays.

  • These clays were modified with ZnO to produce hybrid materials for pollutant removal in water.

  • The hybrid materials had the clay structure with the ZnO spherical materials grafted at the surface.

  • p-nitrophenol (PNP), Malachite green (MG) and Diamant brilliant violet (DBV) were used as model pollutants.

  • All three molecules can be removed from the water either by adsorption and/or photocatalysis.

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The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as these data are part of an ongoing study

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Acknowledgements

JGM and SDL thank the F.R.S.-FNRS for their Postdoctoral Researcher position and Research Director position respectively. MHTM thanks the PACODEL for a doctoral grant. The authors thank the CARPOR platform of the University of Liège and its manager, Dr. Alexandre Léonard, for the nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements. JGM is grateful to the Rotary for a District 2160 grant, to the University of Liège and the FNRS for financial support for a postdoctoral stay in INRS Centre Eau, Terre, Environnement in Québec, Canada.

Author contributions

MHTM: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing – review & editing, Investigation, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft. SDL: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Funding acquisition, Project administration. JC: Investigation, Formal analysis. AF: Investigation, Formal analysis. CA: Investigation, Formal analysis. NF: Supervision, Funding acquisition, Project administration. EDW: Supervision, Funding acquisition, Project administration. JGM: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Investigation, Formal analysis, Supervision, Funding acquisition, Project administration.

Funding

This research was funded by PACODEL/University of Liège, bourse de mobilité doctorale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering – Nanomaterials, Catalysis & Electrochemistry, University of Liège, B6a, Quartier Agora, Allée du six Août 11, 4000, Liège, Belgium

    Marlène Huguette Tsaffo Mbognou, Stéphanie D. Lambert, Joachim Caucheteux, Antoine Farcy, Christelle Alié & Julien G. Mahy

  2. Laboratoire de Physico-chimie des matériaux minéraux, University of Yaounde I, 337, Yaounde, Cameroon

    Marlène Huguette Tsaffo Mbognou & Emmanuel Djoufac Woumfo

  3. Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM), 4110, Yaounde, Cameroon

    Marlène Huguette Tsaffo Mbognou

  4. Laboratoire Argiles, Géochimie et Environnements sédimentaires (AGEs), Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Liège, B-4000, Liège, Belgium

    Nathalie Fagel

  5. Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre-Eau Terre Environnement, Université du Québec, 490, Rue de la Couronne, Québec, QC, G1K 9A9, Canada

    Julien G. Mahy

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  1. Marlène Huguette Tsaffo Mbognou
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  2. Stéphanie D. Lambert
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Correspondence to Julien G. Mahy.

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Mbognou, M.H.T., Lambert, S.D., Caucheteux, J. et al. Hybrid clay-based materials for organic dyes and pesticides elimination in water. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 105, 461–470 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-06005-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-06005-6

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