Photocatalytic reduction of chromium(VI) using multiwall carbon nanotubes/bismuth oxide nanocomposite under solar...

Semiconductor photocatalysis is the most efficient advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment. A new carbon-based photocatalyst bismuth oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotube (Bi₂O₃/MWCNT) nanocomposite has a considerable impact on improving photocatalytic performance. Bi₂O₃/MWCNTs (BMC) nanocomposite was prepared through the hydrothermal processing with 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 wt% of MWCNTs. The prepared photocatalysts have been thoroughly examined by various techniques. The X-ray diffraction confirmed the prepared photocatalyst as α-Bi₂O₃ with high crystallinity. The band gap of Bi₂O₃ and BMC 7.5 nanocomposite was found to be 2.41 and 1.94 eV. The prepared photocatalyst revealed smooth and porous merged flower-like structure with respect to the addition of MWCNTs. The model pollutant chromium(VI) (Cr(VI)) has been used to check the reduction efficiency of the prepared photocatalyst under solar irradiation. It was found that BMC 7.5 nanocomposite showed enhanced photocatalytic metal ion reduction (87.48%) compared to pristine Bi₂O₃ (69.29%). The preliminary photocatalytic Cr(VI) ion reduction experiments were carried to determine the photoreduction efficiency of pristine bismuth oxide and bismuth MWCNT nanocomposite. The kinetic study on Cr(VI) ion reduction obeyed pseudo-first-order rate kinetics for both the prepared photocatalysts. The efficiency of the photocatalysts was further analysed by reusing the same up to 3 cycles without loss of the efficacy.