Biogenic Synthesis of Cu‐Doped ZnO Photocatalyst for the Removal of Organic Dye
Biruktait Ayele Lemecho, Fedlu Kedir Sabir, Dinsefa Mensur Andoshe, Noto Susanto Gultom, Dong–Hau Kuo, Xiaoyun Chen, Endale Mulugeta, Temesgen Debelo Desissa, Osman Ahmed Zelekew
Abstract
) aquatic plant extract. In the preparation process, different amount of copper precursors such as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% of molar ratio were added to zinc nitrate precursors and abbreviated as Cu-ZnO (1%), Cu-ZnO (2%), Cu-ZnO (3%), Cu-ZnO (4%), and Cu-ZnO (5%), respectively. The characterization of the obtained samples was carried out, and the removal of the methylene blue (MB) dye was examined. Out of all catalysts, Cu-ZnO (3%) had the best photocatalytic performance and 89% of the MB dye was degraded. However, the degradation performances of blank (without catalysts), ZnO, Cu-ZnO (1%), Cu-ZnO (2%), Cu-ZnO (4%), and Cu-ZnO (5%) catalysts were 6, 54, 69, 83, 80, and 73%, respectively. Therefore, the use of water hyacinth plant extract with the optimum amount of Cu added to ZnO during the preparation of the catalyst could have a promising application in the degradation of organic pollutants.