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Electrochemical synthesis of CuO–ZnO for enhanced the degradation of Brilliant Blue (FCF) by sono-photocatalysis and sonocatalysis: kinetic and optimization study

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to improve the synthesis condition of the CuO–ZnO nanocomposite using a two-step protocol. Initially, an electrodeposition method was used to synthesize CuO nanoparticles (Nps) at different current densities (25–40–53A/dm2) then assembled with ZnO Nps via a milling process to obtain different catalysts. The performance of this new composite was evaluated by characterizing the nanocomposite with XRD, FE-SEM, FTIR, BET, BJH, pHzpc, UV-DRS and then comparing it with the sonocatalysis and sonophotocatalysis degradations of dye Brilliant Blue FCF (BBF). The preliminary results of the kinetic study and a structural characterization of the nanocomposite showed that the CuO–ZnO synthesis at low current density was an efficient catalyst to degrade BBF with a bigger surface area of 50.63 m2 g−1 and a pH zpc of 8.2. Furthermore, the optimization of operational parameters such as the synthesis temperature (300–500 °C), the mass ratio of CuO:ZnO (2–10%) and the catalyst dose (0.5–2 g L−1) was studied by a central composite design (CCD) using the NEMROOD Software. The adjustment of the model demonstrates an agreement between the experimental and predicted data as shown by the high values of the correlation coefficient (R2photosono = 0.999, R2sono = 0.998).

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The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interest or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

AOPS :

Advanced oxidation process

BBF:

Brilliant Blue

BET:

Brunauer–Emmett–Teller

BJH:

Barrett–Joyner–Halenda

CCD:

Central composite design

C0 :

Initial concentration

C:

Concentration at time t

CV:

Coefficient of varsiation

DF:

Desirability function

E:

Endpoint

Ebg :

Band gap

F-value:

F statistic

FE-SEM:

Field emission scanning electron microscopy

FWHW:

Full width at half maximum

IUPAC:

International Union of pure and applied chemistry

hv :

Energy of the incident photon

k:

Rate constant

kα :

X-ray spectral line

Nps :

Nanoparticules

pHzpc :

Zero point charge

R:

Universel gaz constant

R-squar:

Coefficient de determination

RSM:

Response surface methodology

US:

Ultrasonic irradiation

UV:

Ultraviolet

UV-DRS:

Ultraviolet diffuse reflection spectroscopy

X:

Amplitude

Yt :

Rate of concentration

α:

Absorption coefficient

β:

Full width at half maximum

θ:

Diffraction angle

λ:

Wavelength

υ:

Frequency

τ:

Interval time

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the University of Sciences and technology of Houari Boumediene (Algeria) and National Engineering school of Sfax (Tunisia) for allowing access to their technical facilities. We thank Marie-Anne HAIRAN, English teacher, for proofreading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Reaction Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering & Process Engineering, USTHB, 16111, Algiers, Algeria

    Rokia Youcef, Amel Benhadji, Djahida Zerrouki & Mourad Taleb Ahmed

  2. Laboratory of «Eau, Energie et Environnement», National Engineering School of Sfax, University of Sfax, B.P 1173. W., 3038, Sfax, Tunisia

    Nadim Fakhakh

  3. Unilasalle-Ecole des Métiers de l’Environnement, Campus de Ker Lann, 35170, Bruz, France

    Hayet Djelal

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  1. Rokia Youcef
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Youcef, R., Benhadji, A., Zerrouki, D. et al. Electrochemical synthesis of CuO–ZnO for enhanced the degradation of Brilliant Blue (FCF) by sono-photocatalysis and sonocatalysis: kinetic and optimization study. Reac Kinet Mech Cat 133, 541–561 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-021-01961-6

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