Removal of Mercury (II) in Aqueous Solution by Using ZnO and ZnO/CdS Nanoparticles as Photocatalysts

Authors

• Fattima Al-Zahra Gabar Gassim * ¹
• Ali J. J. Makkaw ²
• Noor Hadi Aysa ¹

1. College of Pharmacy, University of Babylon, Hilla, Iraq
2. Directorate of Education in Babylon, Ministry of Education, Iraq

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and ZnO/CdS nanoparticles have been synthesized. The samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and  scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Photocatalytic reduction of toxic Hg (II) in aqueous solutions by suspension ZnO_NPs and ZnO/CdS_NPs has been studies under an oxygen atmosphere. Flame atomic absorption (AFM) has been used to determine the concentration of Hg (II) in aqueous solutions. Photocatalytic reduction of Hg (II) was carried out with various ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO_NPs) concentrations. The optimum concentration of ZnO NPs was obtained at 0.24 mg/L. The highest photo reduction rate was obtained at 0.24 mg/ZnO/CdS_NPs concentration. According to the experimental results, the reaction mechanism of ZnO_NPs and ZnO/CdS_NPs illumination to produce oxidizing species and the effect of these species on the Hg (II) in aqueous solution has been suggested.

Keywords

• Environmental treatments
• ZnO nanoparticle
• TiO2
• Photocatalyst
• Nanostructures
• Thin films
• UV irradiation.
• Nanocomposites
• Semicoductors