Effect of catalyst type and dose on solar photocatalytic oxidation for the degradation of Zenafix Yellow reactive dye aqueous solution

The solar photocatalytic oxidation of Zenafix Yellow BF3B (ZY) as a model substance of reactive dye aqueous solution has been studied using tubular solar reactor which emitted ultraviolet and visible radiations. The effect of amount of three different types of semiconductor photocatalysts was examined. ZY dye was oxidized by solar radiation in the absence of catalyst oxides, but the reaction was slower than in the presence of catalyst oxide resulting in an irradiation time too long for practical use. On contrast, the presence of catalyst oxide and electron acceptor such as hydrogen peroxide accelerates and increases the efficiency solar degradation of ZY dye. The kinetics study indicated that the concentrations of ZY declined experimentally representing pseudo first order reaction. The rate of dye degradation was in order TiO2 > ZnO > Al2O3.