Synthesis and characterization of spinel-based catalyst for sonocatalytic removal of ciprofloxacin antibiotics

In the present study, ZnCo۲O۴ spinel was synthesized using the hydrothermal method, then they were immobilized on graphene nanoplatelets (GO/ZnCo۲O۴). The PXRD patterns showed the primary diffractions of ZnCo۲O۴, but the diffraction of GO at ۲θ=۱۱.۹۸° was not observable due to its small amount in the catalyst. FESEM micrographs show the presence of graphene nanoplatelets in GO/ZnCo۲O۴, and EDS / Elemental mapping confirmed the presence of Zn, Co, O and C in the samples. PL analysis shows the reduction of electron-hole recombination in GO/ZnCo۲O۴. Also, based on DRS analysis, it was observed that the absorption in the visible region has increased due to the presence of graphene oxide in the GO/ZnCo۲O۴ catalyst. The present study will investigate the performance of the synthesized catalysts in removing the CIP pollutant under the sonocatalytic degradation process. The research results showed that the presence of graphene oxide in the catalyst improves the performance of the synthesized catalyst so that GO/ZnCo۲O۴ under ultrasound waves (sonocatalyst) has higher activity and performance in removing CIP pollutants than ZnCo۲O۴. Therefore, the synthesized GO/ZnCo۲O۴ catalyst can be an ideal candidate in water purification applications through the sonocatalytic process.

کلیدواژه ها:

ZnCo۲O۴ ، Graphene nanoplatelets ، Ciprofloxacin ، Sonocatalytic degradation