ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Synthesis and characterization of direct Z-scheme CdS/TiO₂ nanocatalyst and evaluate its photodegradation efficiency in wastewater treatment systems

Sajad Alizadeh, Narges Fallah, and Manochehr Nikazar

Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

E-mail: Nfallah2001@aut.ac.ir

Abstract: In the present research, the photocatalytic degradation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a reference substance for determination of photocatalytic efficiency of wastewater treatment systems, in the presence of CdS/TiO₂ nanoparticles under visible light irradiation was investigated. For this purpose, an ultrasonic method combined by microemulsion was used to synthesize CdS/TiO₂ core/shell nanoparticles in a mild condition without surfactant. The morphology, structure and properties of the nanoparticles were studied via X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible spectra (UV–vis), Fourier transform near IR (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The TEM image clearly indicated the size of non-agglomerated nanoparticles in the absence of surfactant, are almost 10 nm in a spherical shape. UV–vis spectra for these particles revealed a red shift in absorption edge up to 570 nm which was in green area. The photodegradation studies were performed in a batch photoreactor with a sun simulator lamp. The degradation efficiency of nanoparticles was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) device and high degradation efficiency up to 80% was recognized with this method. Also, kinetic study of photodegradation of nanoparticles was performed in an arbitrary point and the rate of DMSO degradation was fitted to Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model and consequently, K parameter, has been determined.

Keywords: Core–shell nanocomposite ; Characterization test ; Photocatalytic degradation ; Degradation kinetics 

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-019-00862-2

Chemical Papers 74 (1) 133–143 (2020)