Purification of Industrial Wastewater Using Visible-Light Sensitive Photocatalysts | WPN World People News

The photocatalyst decreases the cost of purification of industrial wastewater and saves energy due to its sensitivity to visible light.

The main objective of the research was to introduce a new generation of photocatalysts sensitive to visible light and to develop methods to increase the performance of photocatalysts in the purification of dye wastewater.

In this research, lead selenide nanoparticles doped with the lanthanide erbium element were used in the production of photocatalyst sensitive to visible light, and its performance in the elimination of an organic pollutant found in industrial wastewater entitled Malachite green was studied.

The use of the proposed catalytic nanoparticles in the photocatalytic oxidation of pollutants under visible light decreases the cost but increases the rate of the degradation of the pollutants. In addition, these nanoparticles do not create any significant toxic effect on herbal samples.

The efficiencies of dye-removal processes by using lead selenide nanoparticles and erbium doped lead selenide are 64% and 96% in 75 minutes, respectively. Based on the results, this achievement can be used in the purification of wastewater of dying industries or pharmaceutical wastewater under the visible light.

The majority of photocatalysts used in photocatalytic oxidation processes are triggered by ultraviolet beam. Taking into consideration the problems caused by the high cost of ultraviolet beam in industries and high electrical energy consumption of the light sources, the introduction of a new photocatalyst sensitive to visible light is a great step for the industrialization of photocatalytic oxidation process by using the abovementioned photocatalysts.

Source: Nanotechnology Now