Removal of Methylene Blue Pollutant from Wastewater Using ZnFe2O4-ZnO-Perlite Nanocomposite in Batch Reactor

Methylene blue is the most common colored material that is used to stain cotton, wool and silk; it has a high global consumption, and is found in high-tech textile wastewater. In this study, the photocatalysis degradation reaction of methylene blue (MB) in polluted water was performed using a ZnFe2O4-ZnO-perlite nanocomposite in suspension condition under UV and visible LED illumination in a batch photoreactor. To prepare ZnFe2O4-ZnO-perlite nanocomposite, first, ZnFe2O4 nanospheres were synthesized by hydrothermal route, ZnO nanoparticles were prepared via sol-gel method in media containing perlite and ZnFe2O4. To detect prepared nanocomposite, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) pattern were used. Effects of operating factors on photocatalyst degradation such as catalyst amount, powers of UV and visible LED lamps, radiation duration and reaction temperature were investigated. The highest efficiency was obtained under optimal conditions (3 g/L photocatalyst amount, UV power and LED power of 20 watts, the radiation time of 120 minutes and temperature of 35 ºC). The kinetic reaction was investigated in optimal conditions and the results showed that its kinetics was first order and the results were acceptable in these studies. Based on these results, a method for photocatalytic degradation was obtained using a ZnFe2O4-ZnO-perlite nanocomposite, which can be used to expand it into industrial form, for wastewater treatment in industry.