Application of microwave irradiation in preparation and characterization of CuO/Al۲O۳ nanocomposite for removing MB dye from aqueous solution

چکیده مقاله

In this study CuO/Al2O3 nanocomposite was synthesized with some aid of microwave irradiation in ethylene glycol for the first time. The effect of irradiation power and calcination temperature on the morphology and crystallinity was investigated by FESEM, FTIR, XRD, EDS and BET tests. The photocatalytic degradation ability of samples was evaluated with methylene blue removal from aqueous solution under UV irradiation. To gain the efficient removal, optimum conditions were determined by the power of microwave irradiation and calcination temperature in 900 W and 700oC, respectively. XRD results showed that calcination at 700oC provided clearly Al2O3 crystals and the formed nanocomposite was more efficient; meanwhile the average particle size was increased due to the agglomeration of particles. The results of methylene blue (MB) removal exhibited that the CuO/Al2O3 nanocomposite prepared with 900 W has the highest photocatalytic ability and that about 90% of dye was removed after 100 min.