Modelling and Optimization of Photocatalytic Degradation of Naphthalene Using ZnO-ZnFe2O4 Composite

Abstract

ZnO-ZnFe2O4 composite was applied for photocatalytic degradation of naphthalene in fresh and saline waters under visible light irradiation. The effects of initial concentration of naphthalene, ZnO-ZnFe2O4 dosage and salinity on photocatalytic degradation of naphthalene were investigated using the central composite design. Statistically significant model quadratic equation was developed for photocatalytic degradation of naphthalene using ZnO-ZnFe2O4 composite. The most significant parameter in the photocatalytic degradation is the ZnO-ZnFe2O4 dosage followed by the initial concentration of naphthalene and then salinity. The highest photocatalytic degradation of naphthalene was achieved at salinity of zero (that is in fresh water). The predicted optimum conditions for photocatalytic degradation of naphthalene using the ZnO-ZnFe2O4 composite are: initial naphthalene concentration of 16.8 mg/l, ZnO-ZnFe2O4 dosage of 0.50 g/l, and salinity of 0 ppt. The model quadratic equation was validated by performing experiments under the predicted optimum values. The experimental and the predicted values of naphthalene degradation under the predicted optimum values are 99.04 % and 98.8 %. Hence, the developed quadratic model is reliable for predicting photocatalytic degradation of naphthalene using ZnO-ZnFe2O4 composite.