Synthesis, characterization and investigation photocatalytic degradation of Nitro Phenol with nano ZnO and ZrO2

Abstract

ZnO and ZrO₂ photo catalysts were synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion method. The products were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Structural and morphological properties of nano particles were investigated and the average crystalline size of ZnO and ZrO₂ was obtained 44 and 51 nm, respectively. Also, photo catalytic degradation of Nitro phenol from aqueous solution by using nano scale ZnO and ZrO₂ powders under UV-C light irradiation was studied and degradation of Nitro phenol was 98% for ZnO in 40 minutes and 83% in 100 min for ZrO₂.