Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of selected chlorophenols using Ag/zno nanocomposites

  • Published:
MRS Advances Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Chlorophenols are among the priority listed water contaminants due to their estrogenic, mutagenic or carcinogenic health effects. The Ag/ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized, characterized and tested for photacatalytic degradation of chlorophenols in water. The synthesis was done using zinc nitrate hexahydrate (ZnNO3. 6H2O) precursor and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Silver nitrate (AgNO3) was added to ZnO and reduced with sodium brohydride to produce the silver nanoparticles (NPs) within the ZnO structure. The silver content was varied from 1, 3 and 5wt% for optimisation. The nanocomposites were characterised using ultraviolet - visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), photolumniscence (PL), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The nanocomposites were tested for their photocatalytic properties on 2- chlorophenol (CP), 2-chlorophenol (CP) and 2,4- dichlorophenol (DCP) in water. The UV-Vis results showed that, as the amount of silver was increased a gradual slight red shift was observed. The XRD patterns for Ag/ZnO exhibited peaks that were characteristic of the hexagonal wurzite structure and peaks characteristic for Ag appeared at 38.24o, 44.37o, 64.67o and 77.58o corresponding to (111), (200), (220) and (311) reflection planes. STEM results showed the presence of Ag in ZnO with ZnO appearing as rods shapes. The EDX elemental analysis confirmed the presence of Ag in the Ag/ZnO nanocomposites with no contaminants peaks. On testing the nanocomposites for phohotocatalytic degradation of chlorophenols, addition of Ag to ZnO improved degradation of the chlorophenols compared to the pristine ZnO.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M. K. Seery, R. George, P. Floris, and S. C. Pillai, J. Photochem. Photobiol. A: Chem 189, 258–263 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. M. A. Behnajady, N. Modirshahla, and R. Hamzavi, J. Hazard. Mater. B 133, 226–232 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. W. Smith, S. Maob, G. Lu, A. Catlett, and J. Chen, Chem. Phys. Lett. 485, 171–175 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. N. Bahadur, K. Jai, A. Srivastava, G. Govind R., D. Haranath, and M. S. Dulat, Chem. Phys. Mater. 124, 600–608 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. M. A. Raza, Z. Kanwal, A. Rauf, A. N. Sabri, S. Riaz, and S. Naseem, Nanomaterials 6, (2016).

  6. E. Mosquera, C. Rojas-Michea, M. Morel, F. Gracia, V. Fuenzalida, and R. A. Zárate, Applied Surface Science 347, 561–568 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Y. Cheng, L. An, J. Lan, F. Gao, R. Tan, X. Li, and G. Wang, Materials Research Bulletin 48, 4287–4293 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. C. Jaramillo-Páez, J. A. Navío, and M. C. Hidalgo Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 356, 112–122 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. N. Singh, R. Chakraborty, and R. K. Gupta, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 6, 459–467 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. J. Xie and Q. Wu, Materials Letters 64, 389–392 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. S. K. Karn and S. K. Chakrabarti, Int. Recycl. Org. Waste Agricult. 4, 53–62 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. A. E. Ghaly, R. Ananthashankar, M. Alhattab, and V. V. Ramakrishnan J Chem Eng Process Techno 5, 182–200 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  13. T. Ge, J. Han, Y. Qi, X. Gu, L. Ma, C. Zhang, S. Naeem, and D. Huang, Aquat. Toxocol. 184, 78–93 (2017).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. E. O. Igbinosa, E. E. Odjadjare, V. N. Chigor, I. H. Igbinosa, A. O. Emoghene, F. O. Ekhaise, N. O. Igiehon, and O. G. Idemudia, Sci. World J. (2013).

  15. H. Aby, A. Kshirsagar, and P. K. Khanna J. Mater. Sci. Nano-technol. 4, (2016).

  16. P. Manikandan, P. N. Palanisamy, R. Ramya, and D. Nalini, International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Computational and Applied Sciences 9, 148–151 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  17. B. Otieno, S. Apollo, B. Naidoo, and A. Ochieng, “Response surface methodology modelling of diazinon photodegradation using TiO2-ZnO.29th–30th December 2016, ISBN: 978-93-86083-34-0,” in Proceedings of ISERD International Conference, Anonymous (, 29th–30th December 2016).

  18. A. Kumar, K. Kaur, and S. Sharma, Indian J. Pharm.Biol. Resour. 1, 16–24 (2013).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. W. Xie, Y. Li, W. Sun, J. Huang, H. Hao Xie, and X. Zhao,, ” Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 216, 149–155 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. E. J. Guidelli, O. Baffa, and D. R. Clarke, Photoluminescence, Radioluminescence, And Optically Stimulated Luminescence (2015).

  21. W. W. Lu, S. Y. Gao, and J. J. Wang, Journal of Physysics and Chemistry C 112, 16792–16800 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. J. Liqiang, Q. Yichun, W. Baiqi, L. Shudan, J. Baojiang, Y. Libin, F. Wei, F. Honggang, and S. Jiazhong, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 90, 1773–1787 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. X. Lu, W. Zhang, Q. Zhao, L. Wang, and C. Wang, e-Polymers, 6, 430–437 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  24. K. Jyoti, M. Baunthiyal, and A. Singh, Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences 9, 217–227 (2016).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. M. K. Talari, A. B. A. Majeed, D. K. Tripathi, and M. Tripathy, Chemical and Phamaceutical Bulletin 60, 818–824 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. N. Sharma, J. Kumar, S. Thakur, S. Sharma, and V. Vikas ShrivastavaDrug Invention Today 5, 50–54 (2013).

  27. A. Gnanaprakasam, V. M. Sivakumar, and M. Thirumarimurugan,, Indian Journal of Materials Science 1–16 (2015).

  28. S. Ahmed, M. G. Rasul, W. N. Martens, R. J. Brown, and M. A. Hashib, Desalination 261, 3–18 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Andries Potgieter Boulevard, Vanderbijlpark, 1911, South Africa

    Kate Kotlhao, Fanyana M. Mtunzi, Vusumzi Pakade, Ikechukwu P. Ejidike & Michael J. Klink

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Vaal University of Technology, Andries Potgieter Boulevard, Vanderbijlpark, 1911, South Africa

    Neelan Laloo & Michael J. Klink

  3. Institute of Chemical and Biotechnology, Vaal University of Technology, Andries Potgieter Boulevard, Vanderbijlpark, 1911, South Africa

    Sekomeng J. Modise

  4. Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa

    Richard M. Moutloali

Authors
  1. Kate Kotlhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fanyana M. Mtunzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Vusumzi Pakade
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Neelan Laloo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ikechukwu P. Ejidike
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sekomeng J. Modise
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Richard M. Moutloali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Michael J. Klink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kotlhao, K., Mtunzi, F.M., Pakade, V. et al. Enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of selected chlorophenols using Ag/zno nanocomposites. MRS Advances 3, 2129–2136 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2018.170

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2018.170

Search

Navigation