PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATION OF SONOCHEMICALLY DOPED FE3+ INTO ZNO NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

In this present study, mechanistic investigation of ultrasound-assisted dye decolorization/degradation was investigated using sonochemically prepared Fe 3+ doped ZnO. Fe 3+ doped ZnO nanoparticle was prepared under ultrasound (20 kHz) irradiation using a doping concentration of 2 wt% of Fe(III). To investigate the catalytic activity of Fe 3+ doped ZnO, Acid Red 14 (azo dye) was chosen for decolorization/degradation using sonolysis, photocatalysis and sono-photocatalysis processes. To study the influence of dopant onto structure, crystallinity, and optical properties, different analytical analyses were performed such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta potential, Delsa Nano Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer analysis (VSM) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) etc. For photocatalytic experiments, a blended high pressure mercury UV lamp with maximum peak emission at 365 nm was used. The decolorization/degradation of dye with modified photocatalyst showed faster reaction kinetics under sono-photocatalytic process. Ultrasound showed an additive effect for degradation/decolorization process. The maximum decolorization of AR14 was achieved (~ 82%) under sono-photocatlytic process with an initial dye concentration of 20 ppm. The sono-photocatalysis process showed 1.4-1.6 higher reaction rates with Fe-doped ZnO than pure ZnO.