Synthesis, Characterization, Optical Studies and Degradation of Organic Pollutant by Y۲O۳-coated Diatomite Modified with Zn۲+

Degradation of hazardous organic contaminants in industrial wastewater through AOPs (advanced oxidation processes) has attracted a huge deal of research attention. Sonocatalysis is one type of AOP process that has recently been applied for degrading organic dyes . In this research, Zn-doped Y۲O۳ coated biosilica nanostructures with variable Zn۲+ contents were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal technique. The products were characterized by means of energy dispersive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy techniques. As claimed by XRD, the۲particles were crystallized excellently and attributed to the cubic phase of Y۲O۳. The cell parameters of the synthesized materials were calculated from the XRD patterns. With increasing dopant content (x), a, b and c parameter for Zn۲+ increases . High porosity and the surface morphology of diatom can be employed as the template to enhance potential of functional materials. The diameter of these particles in case of ۸% Zn-doped Y۲O۳-coated with biosilica is around ۲۰–۶۵nm. . Changing the mass ratio of the substrate–diatomite and the coating material–doped-Y۲O۳ controls the thickness of the coating layers. The influence of substitution of Zn۲+ ions into Y۲O۳ lattice caused a redshift in the absorbance and a decrease in the bandgap of as-prepared coated compounds. The pore volume and BET specific surface area of Zn-doped Y۲O۳ -coated diatomite is greater than uncoated biosilica. The photocatalytic activities of as-synthesized specimens were evaluated for the degradation of Reactive Red ۴۳. The doped samples with proper content of Zn۲+ ion had much better catalytic performance compared with uncoated biosilica. For diatom coated ۸ % Zn-doped Y۲O۳ nanoparticles, the highest decolorization efficiency was achieved. The effect of various specifications like ultrasonic power, various scavenger, and catalyst amount was explored. The results revealed that diatomite coated with Zn۲+-incorporated yttrium oxide nanoparticles can be utilized in various experimental cycles with no significant drop in photocatalytic activity.