Removal of Remazol Red RR from Aqueous Solution by Glass Supported Films of Synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles
Mohammad Akter Hossain1, Md. Mufazzal Hossain2, Md. Nazmul Kayes3.
The nanoparticles of ZnO (n-ZnO) have been synthesized by a sol-gel method and
characterized by UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy
dispersive X-Ray spectrometry (EDX) and powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Precursor of n-ZnO
particles were prepared via a non-aqueous route, which was calcined at 500oC. These particles
were then deposited on a glass substrate for adsorption and photodegradation of a typical textile
dye, Remazol Red RR (RRR). Especially, the high surface to volume ratio of nanoparticles has
appealed much attention to use these particles both as an adsorbent and a photocatalyst. A
comparative study was carried out between n-ZnO and a commercially available ZnO (c-ZnO) to
investigate the removal efficiency of RRR from its aqueous solution under different conditions. The
removal efficiency has been optimized by varying several operating variables and the highest
performance has been obtained with 0.115 g/slide of ZnO and 0.5 × 10-4 M aqueous solution of
RRR under sunlight irradiation. It is important to note that the use of the films of ZnO in the
presence of solar light makes it suitable for recycling and causes no secondary environmental
pollution
Affiliation:
- Kent State University, United States
- University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
- University of Barishal, Bangladesh