Photocatalytic degradation of textile dyes using β-CD-CuO/ZnO nanocomposite.

Photocatalytic degradation of dyes using metal oxides and their composite has become a smart process for detoxification of pollutants from wastewater system. The coupling of metal oxides increases the efficiency due to its broad light absorption, fast dynamic process and natural p-n characteristics. Sol-gel method was selected to prepare the binary nanocomposite Copper Oxide/Zinc Oxide (CuO/ZnO) & its ternary nanocomposite with beta cyclodextrin (β-CD), β-CD-CuO/ZnO. The synthesized materials were characterized using PXRD, FT-IR, TEM, TGA-DTA and Uv–Visible spectroscopy. For both the materials photocatalytic performance was studied for of model textile dyes pollutants degradation, malachite green (MG) and methylene blue (MB). The efficiency of the prepared catalysts and degradation mechanism are discussed. The involvement of various active species in degradation process is confirmed by applying suitable scavengers. Further the limitation of electron hole recombination was improved by β-CD addition. The photocatalytic activity of β-CD-CuO/ZnO was observed superior to CuO/ZnO catalyst. The degradation efficiency was observed up to 89.15 and 79.90% for MB and MG dyes after 180 min of irradiation using β-CD-CuO/ZnO. In addition to that, β-CD-CuO/ZnO has good adsorption tendency because of its hydrophilic exterior and hydrophobic interior cavity due to which they can encapsulate pollutant molecules in cavity. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of ternary nanocomposite with beta cyclodextrin (β-CD), β-CD-CuO/ZnO. • Properly characterization of β-CD-CuO/ZnO with various techniques. • Role of β-CD in photocatalytic activity is enlightened. • Performance of β-CD-CuO/ZnO as photocatalyst is measured by MG and MB dyes. • Study of Efficiency, Kinetic, Reusability and Photocatalytic degradation mechanism of β-CD-CuO/ZnO is accomplished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]