ZnO enriched transparent glass‐ceramics for wastewater decontamination

Transparent photoactive glass-ceramic materials containing high content of photoactive ZnO component (up to 40%) have been prepared by applying heat-treatment for the glass composition SiO2, ZnO, B2O3, Na2O, K2O, P2O5, Li2O, and BaO melted at low temperature (similar to 1200 degrees C). The prepared materials absorb considerably in UV region and are transparent for visible light. The absorption cutoff shifted towards higher wavelength with the increase of ZnO content. The prepared materials showed proper photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Red SPD Cotton dye as model compound. Maximum removal (76%) was achieved in case of sample containing 30 wt % of ZnO and heat treated at 450 degrees C for 10 h. Therefore, these materials can be considered promising for the degradation of organic pollutants via photocatalysis. (C) 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 442-447, 2017