Photocatalytic degradation of humic substances in the presence of ZnO nanoparticles immobilized on glass plates under ultraviolet irradiation

ABSTRACT

ZnO nanoparticles were prepared through the chemical precipitation method and immobilized on glass plates. The effects of initial pH, UV lamp power, glass surface area, and initial humic substances (HS) concentration on the photocatalysis of HS were studied. Acidic conditions favoured the photocatalysis of HS. The degradation efficiency of HS was enhanced by increasing the UV lamp power and glass surface area. According to the results of total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, a mineralization efficiency of 59.3% was obtained within a reaction time of 120 min in comparison with the removal efficiency (%) of UV₂₅₄, which was found to be 83.3%.

KEYWORDS:

• Humic substances
• immobilization
• mineralization
• photocatalytic degradation
• ZnO nanocatalyst

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Deputy of Research, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (Iran), for financial supports.