A simple co-precipitation/calcination method using PEG-1000 as solvent to formation of MWO4 (M= Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Zn) nanocrystals and their photocatalytic properties for degradation of industrial dyes

Abstract

In this work, metal tungstate nano- and microcrystals (MWO4) have been synthesized easily using simple co-precipitation route. PEG-1000 was used as good and cheap chelating agent to control the size and morphology of products. The synthesized metal tungstate crystals were characterized by available technique such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To survey the photo catalyst properties of synthesized MWO4, the photocatalytic degradation of some common dyes (Eriochrome Black T (EBT), Methylene Orange (MO), Methylene Blue (MB) which are present in industrial wastewaters was followed under UV-Vis light irradiation. The results showed that among prepared metal tungstate compounds, PbWO4 has a higher total photocatalytic activity for degradation of mixed dyes (MB=91%, MO=94%, EBT=84%).