LDH/Cu-α-Fe2O3, LDH/Ni-α-Fe2O3, and LDH/Mn-α- Fe2O3 as nanophotocatalysts for photocatalytic degradation of reactive red 198 under a mercuryvapor lamp

Abstract

ABSTRACT Co-precipitation as a successful assay was chosen for the preparation of transition metals (M¼Cu, Ni, and Mn) doped on iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3). In this study, active and stable LDH/ Cu-a-Fe2O3, LDH/Ni-a-Fe2O3, and LDH/Mn-a-Fe2O3 composites (LDH¼layered double hydroxide) were prepared via co-precipitation assay and characterized using spectroscopic methods. Their photocatalytic performance was evaluated by degradation of Reactive red 198 under mild conditions. The results showed that LDH/Cu-a-Fe2O3 composite shows the best photocatalytic activity with respect to the others with 97% yield by degrading 40ppm of Reactive red 198 in 165 min. By investigating several kinetic models of the degradation process, it was found that RR-198 degradation fitted with pseudo-first order. Thus, the photocatalytic performance of synthesized nanocomposites is an efficient catalyst for environmental treatment and energy conversion.