Ultra-violet responsive photocatalytic application of CuO/Bi oxide nitrate hydroxide hydrate powder

A new photocatalyst CuO/Bi oxide nitrate hydroxide hydrate (C-BONH) has been synthesized by hydrothermal method. The obtained product has been characterized using x-rays diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The surface area has been measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, and it has been found 4.42 m2 g–1. The photocatalytic activity has been evaluated by removal of reactive blue 19 (RB 19) dye, where total decolorization has been achieved in less than 15 minutes. The photocatalytic process is described with four kinetic models (Langmuir‒Hinshelwood model, pseudo-first order kinetic model, pseudo-second order kinetic model and Chrastil diffusion model). Langmuir‒Hinshelwood kinetic model and pseudo-first order kinetic model the best describe the photocatalytic process. Chrastil diffusion model has been shown that diffusion has not any influence on the process. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) has been decreased from 28.1 to 6.82 mg dm–3within 180 minusing UV light (254 nm wavelength). It has been observed that photocatalyst retained its stability and activity even after five cycles, which could significantly reduce the operation cost in practical applications.