Synthesis and characterization of Bi <sub>2</sub> O <sub>3</sub> and Ag-Bi <sub>2</sub> O <sub>3</sub> and evaluation of their photocatalytic activities towards photodegradation of crystal violet dye
Muhammad Saeed, Atta ul Haq, Majid Muneer, Aziz Ahmad, Tanveer Hussain Bokhari, Qudsia Sadiq
Abstract
Abstract The development of visible light effective photocatalysts for photodegradation of organic pollutants is a hot topic in current wastewater treatment research. In this study, visible light-responsive photocatalysts, the Ag-Bi 2 O 3 , are reported as active photocatalysts for photodegradation of crystal violet dye, a model pollutant. The Ag-Bi 2 O 3 photocatalysts loaded with 5, 10, and 15% Ag were prepared and described with XRD, SEM, and EDX. The characterization confirmed the formation of material with β -Bi 2 O 3 as the main constituent in the crystalline phase. The results of photocatalytic degradation experiments showed that Ag-Bi 2 O 3 is more active for photodegradation of crystal violet dye than the pristine Bi 2 O 3 . Furthermore, the Ag-Bi 2 O 3 loaded with 5% Ag showed the highest catalytic activity among the Ag-Bi 2 O 3 loaded with 5%, 10%, and 15% Ag content. The analysis of photodegradation experiments showed that about 52 to 92, 76, and 57% of 100 mg l −1 of crystal violet dye degraded with Bi 2 O 3 , and Ag-Bi 2 O 3 loaded with 5% Ag, 10% Ag, and 15% Ag, respectively. The reaction kinetics is described according to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism.