Degradation of Navy Blue by the synergetic effect of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma and photocatalytic activity of iron oxide nanoparticles
摘要
This study investigated a new method to remove Navy Blue dye from water. The approach combined the power of cold atmospheric pressure plasma with iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). First, the research work synthesized the IONPs using a technique called plasma electrolysis. These nanoparticles were then analyzed with Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to understand their shape and structure, and the elemental composition of IONPs was analyzed by Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Next, the nanoparticles were used alongside cold plasma to analyze the degradation of Navy Blue dye in water. The breakdown of the dye was measured using a technique called UV–Visible spectroscopy. An important part of this degradation process is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) study was employed to track the creation of these ROS. Additionally, the degradation process was understood by measuring the changes in the acidity (pH), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Electrical conductivity (EC) of the water. Finally, spectroscopic methods were used to quantify the amount of hydroxyl radicals in the water. The results showed that an impressive 85% degradation of the Navy Blue dye was achieved after 40 min of treatment at a specific voltage (25 kV). This research demonstrates that combining cold plasma with IONPs is a promising and eco-friendly approach for decolouring and degradation of Navy Blue dye.