Abstract
Currently, there is a major problem of water contaminations, especially of dyes, all over the world. A new technique is being developed daily for the treatment of contaminated water. In many ways, a photocatalytic degradation of a dye by a mixed metal oxide photocatalyst is counted as the best technique for water treatment. This paper also addresses the preparation and photocatalytic application of newly developed mixed metal oxide nanocomposite, CuO-ZnO-CdWO4. A novel mixed metal oxide CuO-ZnO-CdWO4 nanocomposite has been synthesized by a green route using Brassica Rapa leaves extract. The application of CuO-ZnO-CdWO4 as a photocatalyst in wastewater treatment has been thoroughly discussed. Several spectroscopic and microscopic techniques were used to characterize the prepared nanocomposite. The photocatalytic activity of CuO-ZnO-CdWO4 nanocomposite with a band gap of 3.13 eV was observed under the artificial visible light and sunlight for the degradation of Congo red dye. The results under sunlight show the 1.45 times greater removal efficiency than under the artificial visible light. Pseudo-first-order, diffusion, and Singh kinetics models were used to describe the kinetics of dye degradation. Pseudo-first-order model was found to be best fitted model for present study. The performance of CuO-ZnO-CdWO4 was estimated by significant parameters such as quantum yield, figure of merit, turnover number, and mean turnover frequency. The value these parameters were calculated as 1.70 × 10−8 molecules photon−1, 1.77 × 10−4, 2.98 × 108 s−1, and 3.31 × 10−4 s−1, respectively. These parameters revealed high potential of CuO-ZnO-CdWO4 for Congo red dye degradation.
Graphical abstract
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.
References
Abbasi A, Ghanbari D, Salavati-Niasari M, Hamadanian M (2016) Photo-degradation of methylene blue: photocatalyst and magnetic investigation of Fe2O3–TiO2 nanoparticles and nanocomposites. J Mater Sci Mater Electron 27:4800–4809
Adegoke KA, Iqbal M, Louis H, Bello OS (2019) Synthesis, characterization, and application of CdS/ZnO nanorod heterostructure for the photodegradation of Rhodamine B dye. Mater Sci Energy Technol 2:329–336
Al-Niaimi AFD, Atiya G, Abdulateef DA (2018) Thermodynamics and kinetic study of eosin dye adsorption on CuO nanoparticles. Int J Res Pharm Chem 8:281293
Anku W, Oppong SOB, Shukla SK, Govender PP (2016) Comparative photocatalytic degradation of monoazo and diazo dyes under simulated visible light using Fe3+/C/S doped-TiO2 nanoparticles. Acta Chim Slov 63:380–391
Ansari F, Sobhani A, Salavati-Niasari M (2018) Simple sol-gel synthesis and characterization of new CoTiO3/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite by using liquid glucose, maltose and starch as fuel, capping and reducing agents. J Colloid Interface Sci 514:723–732
Anwer H, Park JW (2018) Synthesis and characterization of a heterojunction rGO/ZrO2/Ag3PO4 nanocomposite for degradation of organic contaminants. J Hazard Mater 358:416–426
Aslam I, Cao C, Tanveer M, Farooq MH, Khan WS, Tahir M, Idrees F, Khalid S (2015) A novel Z-scheme WO3/CdWO4 photocatalyst with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic pollutants. RSC Adv 5:6019–6026
Awad AM, Jalab R, Benamor A, Naser MS, Ba-Abbad MM, El-Naas M et al (2020) Adsorption of organic pollutants by nanomaterial-based adsorbents: An overview. J Mol Liq 112335
Baghriche O, Rtimi S, Pulgarin C, Kiwi J (2017) Polystyrene CuO/Cu2O uniform films inducing MB-degradation under sunlight. Catal Today 284:77–83
Balta Z, Esra, Simsek B (2020) Insights into the photocatalytic behavior of carbon-rich shungite-based WO3/TiO2 catalysts for enhanced dye and pharmaceutical degradation. New Carbon Mater 35:371–383
Bouazizi N, Bargougui R, Oueslati A, Benslama R (2015) Effect of synthesis time on structural, optical, and electrical properties of CuO nanoparticles synthesized by reflux condensation method. Adv Mater Lett 6:158–164
Calos NJ, Forrester JS, Schaffer GB (1996) A crystallographic contribution to the mechanism of a mechanically induced solid-state reaction. J Solid State Chem 122:273–280
Chen D, Cheng Y, Zhou N, Chen P, Wang Y, Li K, Huo S, Cheng P, Peng P, Zhang R, Wang L, Liu H, Liu Y, Ruan R (2020) Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants using TiO2-based photocatalysts: A review. J Clean Prod 268:121725
Cui H, Li B, Li Z, Li X, Xu S (2018) Z-scheme based CdS/CdWO4 heterojunction visible light photocatalyst for dye degradation and hydrogen evolution. Appl Surf Sci 455:831–840
Daturi M, Borel MM, Leclaire A, Savary L, Costentin G, Lavalley JC et al (1996) Crystallographic and catalytic studies of a new solid solution CdMoxW1–xO4. J Chim Phys 93:2043–2053
Debnath B, Roy AS, Kapri S, Bhattacharyya S (2016) Efficient dye degradation catalyzed by manganese oxide nanoparticles and the role of cation valence. Chem Select 1:4265
Djurišić AB, He Y, Ng AM (2020) Visible-light photocatalysts: prospects and challenges. APL Mater 8:030903
Dobrucka R (2018) Antioxidant and catalytic activity of biosynthesized CuO nanoparticles using extract of Galeopsidis herba. J Inorg Organomet Polym 28:812–819
Fang X, Lifeng C, Tingting P, Jialing S, Xiaodong Z (2018a) Core-shell CdS@MnS nanorods as highly efficient photocatalysts for visible light driven hydrogen evolution. Appl Surf Sci 457:863–869
Fang H, Guo Y, Wu T, Liu Y (2018b) Biomimetic synthesis of urchin-like CuO/ZnO nanocomposites with excellent photocatalytic activity. New J Chem 42:12779–12786
Fatima B, Siddiqui SI, Ahmed R, Chaudhry SA (2019) Green synthesis of f-CdWO4 for photocatalytic degradation and adsorptive removal of Bismarck Brown R dye from water. Water Resour Ind 22:100119
Feng Y, Liu Y, Xue L, Sun H, Guo Z, Zhang Y, Yang L (2017) Carboxylic acid functionalised sesame straw: a sustainable cost-effective bioadsorbent with superior dye adsorption capacity. Bioresour Technol 238:675–683
Ghanbari D, Salavati-Niasari M (2015) Synthesis of urchin-like CdS-Fe3O4 nanocomposite and its application in flame retardancy of magnetic cellulose acetate. J Ind Eng Chem 24:284–292
Ghanbari M, Salavati-Niasari M (2021) Copper iodide decorated graphitic carbon nitride sheets with enhanced visible-light response for photocatalytic organic pollutant removal and antibacterial activities. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 208:111712
Gholami T, Salavati-Niasari M, Varshoy S (2016) Investigation of the electrochemical hydrogen storage and photocatalytic properties of CoAl2O4 pigment: green synthesis and characterization. Int J Hydrog Energy 41:9418–9426
Guo SQ, Zhang X, Hao ZW, Gao GD, Li G, Liu L (2014) In2O3 cubes: synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic properties. RSC Adv 4:31353–31361
Kalwar NH, Soomro RA, Sherazi STH, Hallam KR, Khaskheli AR (2014) Synthesis and characterization of highly efficient nickel nanocatalysts and their use in degradation of organic dyes. Int J Met 2014:126103
Karami M, Ghanbari M, Amiri O, Salavati-Niasari M (2020) Enhanced antibacterial activity and photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes under visible light using cesium lead iodide perovskite nanostructures prepared by hydrothermal method. Sep Purif Technol 253:117526
Khan I, Saeed K, Khan I (2019) Nanoparticles: properties, applications and toxicities. Arab J Chem 12:908–931
Kihara K, Donnay G (1985) Anharmonic thermal vibrations in ZnO. Can Mineral 23:647–654
Kozuch S, Martin JML (2012) “Turning over” definitions in catalytic cycles. ACS Catal 2:2787–2794
Kumar ED, Thirumalai K, Aravindhan R et al (2015) Visible light photocatalytic degradation of wattle extract: effect of mixing CdWO4 over a semiconductive ZnO photocatalyst. RSC Adv 5:60926–60937
Li Q, Li X, Yu J (2020) Chapter 10 - Surface and interface modification strategies of CdS-based photocatalysts, Ed (s): Yu, J., Jaroniec, M., Jiang, C. Interface Sci Technol 31:313–348
Lim CS (2012) Microwave-assisted synthesis of CdWO4 by solid-state metathetic reaction. Mater Chem Phys 131:714–718
Lim CS, Kim KH, Shim KB (2011) Cyclic microwave synthesis and characterization of cadmium tungstate particles assisted by a solid-state metathetic reaction. J Ceram Process Res 12:727731
Lu F, Astruc D (2020) Nanocatalysts and other nanomaterials for water remediation from organic pollutants. Coord Chem Rev 408:213180
Mageshwari K, Nataraj D, Pal T, Sathyamoorthy R, Park J (2015) Improved photocatalytic activity of ZnO coupled CuO nanocomposites synthesized by reflux condensation method. J Alloys Compd 625:362–370
Mamba G, Pulgarin C, Kiwi J, Bensimon M, Rtimi S (2017) Synchronic coupling of Cu2O(p)/CuO(n) semiconductors leading to Norfloxacin degradation under visible light: kinetics, mechanism and film surface properties. J Catal 353:133–140
Mamba G, Kiwi J, Pulgarin C, Sanjines R, Giannakis S, Rtimi S (2018) Evidence for the degradation of an emerging pollutant by a mechanism involving iso-energetic charge transfer under visible light. Appl Catal B Environ 233:175–183
Mandal S, Adhikari S, Pu S, Wang X, Kim DH, Patel RK (2019) Interactive Fe2O3/porous SiO2 nanospheres for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants: kinetic and mechanistic approach. Chemosphere 234:596–607
Martinez CR, Joshi P, Vera JL, Ramirez-Vick JE, Perales O, Singh SP (2011) Cytotoxic studies of PEG functionalised ZnO nanoparticles on MCF-7 cancer cells. In NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 3:420–423
Mortazavi-Derazkola S, Salavati-Niasari M, Amiri O, Abbasi A (2017) Fabrication and characterization of Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2@Ho nanostructures as a novel and highly efficient photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollution. J Ener Chem 26:17–23
Nagajyothi PC, Vattikuti SVP, Devarayapalli KC, Yoo K, Shim J, Sreekanth TVM (2019) Green synthesis: photocatalytic degradation of textile dyes using metal and metal oxide nanoparticles-latest trends and advancements. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 50:2617–2723
Nittaya T, Chaikarn L, Sukon P (2014) Synthesis of thermally spherical CuO nanoparticles. J Nanomater 2014:1–5
Orooji Y, Ghanbari M, Amiri O, Salavati-Niasari M (2020) Facile fabrication of silver iodide/graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites by notable photo-catalytic performance through sunlight and antimicrobial activity. J Hazard Mater 389:122079
Paul S, Geng CA, Yang TH, Yang YP, Chen JJ (2019) Phytochemical and health-beneficial progress of turnip (Brassica rapa). J Food Sci 84:19–30
Piaskowski K, Świderska-Dąbrowska R, Zarzycki PK (2018) Dye removal from water and wastewater using various physical, chemical, and biological processes. J AOAC Int 101:1371–1384
Putz H, Brandenburg K (n.d.) Pearson’s crystal data-crystal structure database for inorganic compounds-crystal impact. GbR, Kreuzherrenstr. 102, 53227 Bonn,Germany. http://www.crystalimpact.com/endeavour
Quadri TW, Olasunkanmi LO, Fayemi OE, Solomon MM, Ebenso EE (2017) Zinc oxide nanocomposites of selected polymers: synthesis, characterization, and corrosion inhibition studies on mild steel in HCl solution. ACS Omega 2:8421–8437
Rtimi S, Pulgarin C, Sanjines R, Kiwi J (2015) Kinetics and mechanism for transparent polyethylene-TiO2 films mediated self-cleaning leading to MB dye discoloration under sunlight irradiation. Appl Catal B Environ 162:236–244
Salavati-Niasari M, Fereshteh Z, Davar F (2009) Synthesis of oleylamine capped copper nanocrystals via thermal reduction of a new precursor. Polyhedron 28:126–130
Scuderi V, Amiard G, Boninelli S, Scalese S, Miritello M, Sberna PM, Impellizzeri G, Privitera V (2016) Photocatalytic activity of CuO and Cu2O nanowires. Mater Sci Semicond Process 42:89–93
Selvakumar S, Manivasagan R, Chinnappan K (2013) Biodegradation and decolourization of textile dye wastewater using Ganoderma lucidum. Biotech. 3:71–79
Shafek R, Michael H, Sayed A, Ibrahim A, Al-sayed A (2018) Phytochemical study, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Brassica rapa L. leaves extract and its silver nanoparticles. Egypt J Chem 61(2):237–247
Shirzadi A, Nezamzadeh-Ejhieh A (2016) Enhanced photocatalytic activity of supported CuO–ZnO semiconductors towards the photodegradation of mefenamic acid aqueous solution as a semi real sample. J Mol Catal A Chem 411:222–229
Siddiqui SI, Rathi G, Chaudhry SA (2018) Acid washed black cumin seed powder preparation for adsorption of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution: thermodynamic, kinetic and isotherm studies. J Mol Liq 264:275–284
Singh G, Panday S, Rawat M, Kukkar D, Basu S (2017) Facile synthesis of cuo semiconductor nanorods for time dependent study of dye degradation and bioremediation applications. J Nano Res 46:154–164
Sneharani AH, Prabhudev SH, Sachin HR (2019) Effect of phytochemicals on optical absorption spectra during biogenic synthesis of self-assembled silver nanoparticles and studies relevant to food applications. Spectrosc Lett 52:413–422
Srinivas M, Modi D, Patel N, Verma V, Murthy KVR (2014) Photoluminescence studies and core–shell model approach for rare earthdoped CdWO4 nano phosphor. J Inorg Organomet Polym Mater 24:988–993
Tahir MB, Rafique M, Rafique MS, Fatima N, Israr Z (2020) Chapter 6 - Metal oxide- and metal sulfide-based nanomaterials as photocatalysts. In: Tahir MB, Rafique M, Rafique MS (eds) Micro and nano technologies, nanotechnology and photocatalysis for environmental applications. Elsevier, pp 77–96
Tavakoli F, Salavati-Niasari M, Badiei A, Mohandes F (2015) Green synthesis and characterization of graphene nanosheets. Mater Res Bull 63:51–57
Thirumalai K, Balachandran S, Selvam K, Swaminathan M (2016) Nanoribbon-structured CdWO4–ZnO for multiple applications. Emer Mater Res 5:264–276
Tkaczyk A, Mitrowska K, Posyniak A (2020) Synthetic organic dyes as contaminants of the aquatic environment and their implications for ecosystems: a review. Sci Total Environ 717:137222
Tummapudi N, Modem S, Jaladi NK, Choudary G, Kurapati SR (2020) Structural, morphological, optical and mechanical studies of annealed ZnO nano particles. Phys B Condens Matter 597:412401
Wang J, Tafen DN, Lewis JP, Hong Z, Manivannan A, Zhi M, Li M, Wu N (2009) Origin of photocatalytic activity of nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanobelts. J Am Chem Soc 131(34):12290–12297
Wang Q, Shi Y, Sun Y, She H, Yu J, Yang Y (2017) Designed C3N4/CdS–CdWO4 core–shell heterostructure with excellent photocatalytic activity. New J Chem 41:1028–1036
Yousefi M, Gholamian F, Ghanbari D, Salavati-Niasari M (2011) Polymeric nanocomposite materials: preparation and characterization of star-shaped PbS nanocrystals and their influence on the thermal stability of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) copolymer. Polyhedron 30:1055–1060
Yu J, Kiwi J, Wang T, Pulgarin C, Rtimi S (2019a) Evidence for a dual mechanism in the TiO2/CuxO photocatalyst during the degradation of sulfamethazine under solar or visible light: Critical issues. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 375:270–279
Yu J, Kiwi J, Wang T, Pulgarin C, Rtimi S (2019b) Duality in the mechanism of hexagonal ZnO/CuxO nanowires inducing sulfamethazine degradation under solar or visible light. Catalysts 9:916
Yu J, Kiwi J, Zivkovic I, Rønnow HM, Wang T, Rtimi S (2019c) Quantification of the local magnetized nanotube domains accelerating the photocatalytic removal of the emerging pollutant tetracycline. Appl Catal B:Environ 248(2019):450–458
Yuliarto B, Septiani NLW, Kaneti YV, Iqbal M, Gumilar G, Kim M, Na J, Wu KCW, Yamauchi Y (2019) Green synthesis of metal oxide nanostructures using naturally occurring compounds for energy, environmental, and bio-related applications. New J Chem 43:15846–15856
Yuvaraja G, Prasad C, Vijaya Y, Subbaiah MV (2018) Application of ZnO nanorods as an adsorbent material for the removal of As (III) from aqueous solution: kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamic studies. Int J Ind Chem 9:17–25
Zaidi Z, Siddiqui SI, Fatima B, Chaudhry SA (2019) Synthesis of ZnO nanospheres for water treatment through adsorption and photocatalytic degradation: modelling and process optimization. Mater Res Bull 120:110584
Acknowledgements
Authors (Bushra Fatima and Sharf Ilahi Siddiqui) are acknowledging the Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, India, for providing the necessary laboratory facilities for conducting this research.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Bushra Fatima and Sharf Ilahi Siddiqui: Formal analysis, data curation, writing—original draft, prepared the composite, and performed the photocatalysis experiments; contributed reagents, materials, analysis tools, or data; conceived and designed the experiments; analyzed and interpreted the data; wrote the manuscript. Rabia Ahmad: Formal analysis, data curation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, analyzed and interpreted the data; wrote the manuscript. Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh: Formal analysis, data curation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, conceived and designed the experiments; analyzed and interpreted the data; English proof reading. Van Nam Thai: Formal analysis, data curation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, analyzed and interpreted the data; reviewed the manuscript; English proof reading.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval
Not applicable
Consent to participate
Not applicable
Consent to publish
Not applicable
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Sami Rtimi
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Highlights
• This study reports the green synthesis of CuO-ZnO-CdWO4 heterostructure photocatalyst.
• CuO-ZnO-CdWO4 was prepared using the aqueous extract of Brassica Rapa leaves.
• Photocatalyst was tested for Congo red dye degradation under sunlight and halogen lamp.
• The efficient photocatalytic performance of CuO-ZnO-CdWO4 was reported under sunlight.
• The kinetics and performance parameters* were discussed also for CuO-ZnO-CdWO4.
*Performance parameters: Quantum yield, Figure of merit, Turnover number, and Turnover frequency.
Supplementary Information
ESM 1
(DOCX 241 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fatima, B., Siddiqui, S.I., Ahmad, R. et al. CuO-ZnO-CdWO4: a sustainable and environmentally benign photocatalytic system for water cleansing. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 53793–53803 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14543-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14543-9