Degradation of some dyes using nanosized CeCuO3 photocatalyst: synthesis and characterization

Abstract

CeCuO3 nanoparticles with diameter 4.36 nm was synthesized by a fast and simple<br />microwave method using cerric sulphate tetra hydrate and copper sulphate pentahydrate as<br />starting reagents. CeCuO3 was synthesized under microwave heating for 6 min without calcining<br />steps. The synthesized products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and<br />scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the photocatalytic behaviour of nanosized CeCuO3 was<br />also studied spectrophotometrically through decolorization of yellowish orange and fast green<br />dyes, a prompt water pollutant from textile industries. The effect of variation of different<br />parameters i.e. pH, amount of CeCuO3, concentration of dye and light intensity was observed on<br />the rate of photocatalytic bleaching. A Tentative mechanism for the photocatalytic bleaching of<br />dyes has been proposed.