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Effects of doping zinc oxide nanoparticles with transition metals (Ag, Cu, Mn) on photocatalytic degradation of Direct Blue 15 dye under UV and visible light irradiation

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Abstract

Background

Azo dyes represent the most commonly used group of dyes in the textile industry. These organic dyes are mainly resistant to biodegradation and may exhibit toxic and carcinogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of doping zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) with transition metals (silver, manganese, and copper) on the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO NPs in the removal of Direct Blue 15 dye from aqueous environments under ultraviolet (UV) radiation and visible light irradiation.

Methods

One or two metals were used for doping the NPs. In total, seven types of undoped and transition metal-doped NPs were synthesized using the thermal solvent method with ZnO precursors and transition metal salts. The characteristics of the synthesized NPs were determined based on the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and zeta potential measurements.

Results

The produced ZnO NPs did not exhibit any particular photocatalytic activities under UV radiation and visible light irradiation. The highest removal efficiency under UV radiation was about 74% in the presence of silver-doped ZnO NPs, while the maximum efficiency under visible light was 70% in the presence of copper-doped ZnO NPs. The lowest removal efficiency was related to pure ZnO, which was 18.4% and 14.6% under UV and visible light irradiation, respectively. Although the efficiency of dye removal under visible light was not high compared to UV radiation, this efficiency was noteworthy in terms of both practical and economic aspects since it was achieved without the presence of ultraviolet radiation.

Conclusions

The synthesis of transition metal-doped ZnO nanophotocatalysts (with one or two metals) under UV radiation or visible light irradiation could be used as an efficient and promising technology for the photocatalytic removal of Direct Blue 15 dye from aqueous environments.

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Data availability

All the necessary data have been given in the paper. If other investigators need our data for their works, they can contact corresponding authors through the email.

Abbreviations

AFM:

Atomic Force Microscopy

AOP:

Advanced Oxidation Processes

CAS:

Chemical Abstracts Service

CB:

Conduction Band

DLS:

Dynamic Light Scattering

EC:

European Community

EDX:

Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy

ELS:

Electrophoretic Light Scattering

FTIR:

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

NPs:

Nanoparticles

PALS:

Phase Analysis Light Scattering

SEM:

Scanning Electron Microscopy

UV:

Ultraviolet

VB:

Valence Band

XRD:

X-ray Diffraction

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Acknowledgments

The authors offer their thanks to the sponsors of the project.

Funding

This manuscript is extracted from the project approved by the Environmental Health Research Center and funded by the Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (IR.MUK.REC.1396/89).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

    Roya Ebrahimi, Khosro Hossienzadeh, Afshin Maleki, Reza Rezaee, Mahdi Safari, Behzad Shahmoradi & Hiua Daraei

  2. Social Determinant of Health Research, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

    Reza Ghanbari

  3. School of Health, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

    Ali Jafari

  4. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa Campus, 34220, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey

    Kaan Yetilmezsoy

  5. Department of Water and Health, Faculty of Life Sciences, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, Sri Shivarathreeshwara Nagara, Mysuru, Karnataka, 570015, India

    Shivaraju Harikaranahalli Puttaiah

Authors
  1. Roya Ebrahimi
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  2. Khosro Hossienzadeh
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  3. Afshin Maleki
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  10. Kaan Yetilmezsoy
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  11. Shivaraju Harikaranahalli Puttaiah
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Contributions

Designed the study, coordinated all the experiments, participated in manuscript preparation and final approval of the manuscript: AM, KY. Helped in manuscript preparation, data analysis and final approval of the manuscript: RE, BS. Performed laboratory tests, contributed to manuscript preparation and final approval of the manuscript: KH, HD, Contributed to data analysis and interpretation: RG, MS, and RR. Statistical analysis, critical revision: AJ, SHP. All authors reviewed and approved of the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Afshin Maleki or Kaan Yetilmezsoy.

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Highlights

• Transition metal-doped ZnO NPs was used for photocatalytic removal of Direct Blue 15 dye.

• Photocatalytic activity of ZnO NPs was improved after doping with Ag, Mn, and Cu.

• SEM, XRD, FTIR, and AFM corroborated the synthesis of transition metal-doped NPs.

• Photocatalysis using Ag-doped ZnO NPs could degrade 74% of dye under UV radiation.

• About 70% of dye could be removed using Cu-doped ZnO NPs under visible light.

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Ebrahimi, R., Hossienzadeh, K., Maleki, A. et al. Effects of doping zinc oxide nanoparticles with transition metals (Ag, Cu, Mn) on photocatalytic degradation of Direct Blue 15 dye under UV and visible light irradiation. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 17, 479–492 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-019-00366-x

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