Abstract:
This research investigates the synthesis and application of Losod-zeolite (LOS-Z), a
crystalline hydrated sodium aluminosilicate (Na12Al12Si12O48.xH2O) as a potential
photocatalyst for dye degradation and H2 production from dye-degraded water. The
photocatalytic properties are enhanced by impregnating molybdenum (Mo) into LOS-Z
(Mo@LOS-Z). XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, and elemental mapping were used to study the
physiochemical properties of synthesized materials while UV-vis and PL were employed
to explore the optoelectronic properties. The photocatalytic activities for dye degradation
and H2 production were evaluated using methylene blue (MB) under visible light
irradiation. An enhancement in the efficiency of dye degradation (56% to 82%) and H2
production rate was demonstrated due to the competitive photocatalytic performance of
10% Mo@LOS-Z compared to the pristine LOS-Z and CFA-BFA blend. It exhibited 2.5
times higher (~1200 µmol g-1
h
-1
) H2 production than the LOS-Z (~480 µmol g-1
h
-1
) due to
the synergistic effects of narrowed band gap and recombination rate. This study could pave
the way forward into the synthesis of waste-derived photocatalysts for efficient dye
degradation and H2 production.
