Synergistic mechanism of ZnFe2O4/ZnO nanopowder in photocatalytic degradation of acid orange 7

Abstract

ZnFe2O4/ZnO nanopowder was prepared by solution combustion method. The characterization of the nanopowder was done by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the nanopowder exhibited the spinel phase of zinc ferrite and wurtzite phase of zinc oxide. The nanopowder was used for the photocatalytic removal of acid orange dye 7 from its aqueous solution. The effect of various factors such as initial dye concentration, dosage of the photocatalyst and irradiation time was studied. An analysis of the results indicated that the dye degradation was more in case of 10 and 20 ppm dye solutions. The dye degradation decreased with increasing initial concentration. ZnFe2O4/ZnO can be used as a better photocatalyst for the removal of dyes from their aqueous solutions.