Novel ZnO/Zn-Cr
hydrotalcite-like anionic clay as a high-performance and recyclable material
for efficient photocatalytic removal of organic dye under simulated solar
irradiation   



	Abstract: Reusable ZnO/Zn-Cr hydrotalcite-like anionic clays (ZnO/Zn-Cr HACs) were synthesized by a
co-precipitation method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption analysis,
Elemental mapping patterns, scanning electronic microscope and UV-vis diffuse
reflectance spectra. Its adsorption and photocatalytic activity towards organic
pollutant (congo red as a model pollutant) were evaluated. Saturated adsorption
capacity of ZnO/Zn-Cr HACs was 426.29 mg g-1 at 308 K. The model
pollutant could be fast and highly efficient removal from aqueous solution by
ZnO/Zn-Cr HACs under simulated solar light irradiation. The experiments of
cycles demonstrated that there was no evident change in the removal efficiency
of CR solution by ZnO/Zn-Cr HACs for the ?fth time under simulated solar
light irradiation, which indicated that ZnO/Zn-Cr HACs could be reused and will
be favorable for effective elimination of toxic organic compounds in
wastewater. Therefore, it is expected that
ZnO/Zn-Cr HACs with layered structures and high surface areas can be
potentially used as an effective and reusable materials for large-scale
environmental purification.   



	 Keywords: Anionic clay; Dye;
Photocatalysis; Decolorization; Adsorption   



	   



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