Synthesis and characterization of ZnO–TiO 2 nanopowders doped with fe via sol–gel method and their application in photocatalytic degradation of anionic surfactant

ZnO and 0, 5, and 10 mol % Fe-doped ZnO–TiO 2 nanopowders were synthesized by the sol–gel Pechini method. The successful synthesis of coupled ZnO–TiO 2 nanopowders was evident by XRD. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the Fe ions were well incorporated into the ZnO–TiO 2 crystal lattice. The photocatalytic degradation of anionic surfactant (linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LABS), was investigated in aqueous solution using ZnO and Fe-doped ZnO–TiO 2 nanoparticles. The degradation was studied under different conditions such as the Fe 3+ concentration, amount of photocatalyst, irradiation time, pH, initial concentration and presence of electron acceptor. The results showed that photocatalytic degradation of LABS was strongly influenced by these parameters. The best conditions for the photocatalytic degradation of LABS were obtained. It is found that under UV light irradiation, Fe-doping of ZnO–TiO 2 increases the efficiency of its photocatalytic activity in degradation of LABS than pure ZnO and ZnO–TiO 2 .