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Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Synthetic Dyes and Industrial Dye Wastewater by Hydrothermally Synthesized G–CuO–Co3O4 Hybrid Nanocomposites Under Visible Light Irradiation

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Abstract

To enhance the degradation of colour and chemical oxygen demand using photocatalytic activity, Graphene–CuO–Co3O4 hybrid nanocomposites were synthesized using an in situ surfactant free facile hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic degradation of synthetic anionic dyes, methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR), and industrial textile wastewater dyes under visible light irradiation was evaluated. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized structurally and morphologically using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscope, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Evaluation of the colour indicated complete removal at 15 min of irradiation for the MO and CR dyes, with 99% degradation efficiency. The reaction time for the primary effluent wastewater dye was 60 min for 81% dye removal. In contrast, a longer reaction time was required to meet the national discharge regulation for the raw wastewater dye, 300 min for 60% dye removal. The mechanism for dye degradation using the Graphene–CuO–Co3O4 hybrid nanocomposite was elucidated using the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model, and the rate constant and half-life of the degradation process were calculated. The results demonstrate that photocatalytic degradation using a hybrid nanocomposite and visible light irradiation is a sustainable alternative technology for removing colour from wastewater dye.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (2017R1D1A3B03029814).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Disasters Prevention Research Institute, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, Republic of Korea

    Shanmugam Mahalingam & Young-Ho Ahn

  2. Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 025, India

    Jayavel Ramasamy

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  1. Shanmugam Mahalingam
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Correspondence to Jayavel Ramasamy or Young-Ho Ahn.

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Mahalingam, S., Ramasamy, J. & Ahn, YH. Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Synthetic Dyes and Industrial Dye Wastewater by Hydrothermally Synthesized G–CuO–Co3O4 Hybrid Nanocomposites Under Visible Light Irradiation. J Clust Sci 29, 235–250 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10876-017-1329-3

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