Preparation and characterization of Indonesian natural zeolite-supported PbO photocatalyst

Abstract

Indonesian natural zeolite-supported PbO has been prepared and characterized. The zeolite-supported PbO was prepared by sol-gel method using natural zeolite and Pb(CH3COO)2·3H2O as precursors and characterized by using a series method of XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX and UV-visible diffuse reflectance. The catalytic activity of zeolite-supported PbO for removal of methylene blue was performed in the dark condition. The crystallite of zeolite-supported PbO having size of 23.2 nm was observed, but SEM-EDX measurement indicate the presences of zeolite-supported PbO and PbO having 2 to 8 µm and 0.5 to 2 µm in size, respectively, with PbO was spreaded over the surface of the zeolite. The PbO lowers the band gap energy (Eg) of the zeolite from 3.21 to 3.01 eV, allowing the catalysts works under either visible and UV light. The catalysts absorbs methylene blue following Freundlich isotherm absorption.