Studies on photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Orange via inorganic-organic hybrid-polyoxometalates as photocatalyst

Abstract

The synthesis hybrid-polyoxometalates (HPOM) were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). SEM images show that the synthesized HPOM sample displayed an irregular spherical-like shape, granular structure with different size and least distribution of non-agglomerated rod-like nanoparticles.The photocatalytic activities of the synthesis HPOM was tested on the degradation of methyl orange solution under UV irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) was studied at different operating conditions such as the effect of initial dye concentrations, effect of HPOM dosages and effect initial pH value. The percentage degradation was found to be decreased when the initial concentrations of methyl orange were increased from 20 ppm to 100 ppm. Meanwhile, by increasing HPOM dosages, the percentage degradation of MO was increased up to 91.25%. However, it was found that the optimum percentage degradation was at neutral solution condition, pH 7 which at 93.23% compare to mild or strong acidic and basic solution. The experimental kinetic data were found to be fitted into zero order kinetic models with the value of R2 is 0.9942.