ZnO-photoassisted degradation of textile dye using solar energy

This paper describes the efficiency of photocatalytic degradation of textil e dye, reactive blue 4, using ZnO in the form of slurry. The results showed that the dye molecules can be completely degraded to CO2 SO42-, NH4+, NO3- and H2O under solar irradiation. The effects of various parameters viz., Z nO loading, initial concentration of dye, persulphate ion, pH and sodium ca rbonate on the photocatalytic degradation were investigated. The degradatio n of dye was found to be effective in alkaline solution. This work envisage s the great potential that sunlight mediated photocatalyst has in the remov al of textile dyes from wastewater.