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Effect of Ag, Ca, and Fe on photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles to remove textile dyes under sunlight irradiation

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Abstract

The study provides the physical and chemical properties of the synthesized photocatalysts, and the doping ion influence on the photocatalytic reactions degradation of two textile dyes (direct dye DY86, and reactive dye RBY) under sun irradiation. ZnO nanoparticles doped with alkaline earth metals (Calcium), and transition metals (Silver and Iron) were prepared by a precipitation method. The nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, UV–Visible spectrophotometry, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that the properties of doped ZnO were strongly influenced by the nature of dopant. This study shows that the photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide was improved by the doped treatment, the order for the catalyst photocatalytic activities is: ZnO/Fe > ZnO/Ag > ZnO/Ca > ZnO. ZnO doped with transition metal, revealed the highest photodegradation efficiency compared to alkaline earth metals. The dye’s removal efficiency by nanoparticles of ZnO doped with Fe, Ag, and Ca is about 95%, 85%, and 81%.

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank: the National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) for the support of this work.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grants from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 3GIE Laboratory, Industrial Process Engineering Department, Mohammadia Engineering School, Mohammed-V University Rabat-EMI, Mohammed V University, Avenue IbnSina B.P 765, Agdal, 10090, Rabat, Morocco

    Meriem Kouhail, Zakia El Ahmadi & Abbes Benayada

  2. LEC-ESITH, Laboratory of Expertise and Control—Higher School of Textile and Clothing Industries, Km 8 route d’El Jadida B.P 7731, Casablanca, Morocco

    Meriem Kouhail

Authors
  1. Meriem Kouhail
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  2. Zakia El Ahmadi
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  3. Abbes Benayada
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PhD student MK, Dr. ZEA, and Dr. AB contributed to the research implementation, and results’ analysis of the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Meriem Kouhail.

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Kouhail, M., El Ahmadi, Z. & Benayada, A. Effect of Ag, Ca, and Fe on photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles to remove textile dyes under sunlight irradiation. Reac Kinet Mech Cat 135, 169–182 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-021-02061-1

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