Photocatalytic degradation of Janus Green Blue dye in wastewater by green synthesised reduced graphene oxide-silver nanocomposite

ABSTRACT

In this study, green synthesis of reduced graphene oxide-Ag (rGO-Ag) nanocomposite was carried out via bioreduction of Ag salt and graphene oxide (GO) using waste dry cell battery rod and Corchorus olitorius extract as GO precursor and reducing agent, respectively. Characterisation of rGO-Ag nanocomposite was achieved by UV/Vis spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, FTIR and BET analyses. Photocatalytic degradation of Janus Green blue (JGB) dye was conducted in batch mode. Effects of irradiation time, photocatalyst composition, temperature and recyclability were investigated. BET surface area of the nanocomposite was 532.914 m²/g with pore size of 2.136 nm. Optimal percentage photo-removal and equilibrium adsorption capacity of JGB dye by the nanocomposite achieved were 95.72% and 120.48 mg/g, respectively. Photocatalytic adsorption process followed more accurately Freundlich model implying multilayer adsorption onto rGO-Ag surface. Adsorption kinetics fitted perfectly into pseudo-second-order model while the enthalpy change is endothermic. The photocatalyst exhibited considerable stability, efficiency and was successfully applied for the removal of JGB in wastewater samples.

KEYWORDS:

• rGO-Ag nanocomposite
• photocatalysis
• degradation
• Janus Green Blue dye
• green synthesis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors .

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