Efficient photocatalytic degradation of phenol in aqueous solution by SnO 2 :Sb nanoparticles

Abdullah M. Al-Hamdi*, Mika Sillanpää, Tanujjal Bora, Joydeep Dutta

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Photodegradation of phenol in the presence of tin dioxide (SnO 2 ) nanoparticles under UV light irradiation is known to be an effective photocatalytic process. However, phenol degradation under solar light is less effective due to the large band gap of SnO 2 . In this study antimony (Sb) doped tin dioxide (SnO 2 ) nanoparticles were prepared at a low temperature (80°C) by a sol-gel method and studied for its photocatalytic activity with phenol as a test contaminant. The catalytic degradation of phenol in aqueous media was studied using high performance liquid chromatography and total organic carbon measurements. The change in the concentration of phenol affects the pH of the solution due to the by-products formed during the photo-oxidation of phenol. The photoactivity of SnO 2 :Sb was found to be a maximum for 0.6 wt.% Sb doped SnO 2 nanoparticles with 10 mg L -1 phenol in water. Within 2 h of photodegradation, more than 95% of phenol could be removed under solar light irradiation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)229-236
Number of pages8
JournalApplied Surface Science
Volume370
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 1 2016

Keywords

  • Antimony
  • Doping
  • Phenol degradation
  • Photocatalysis
  • Tin dioxide nanoparticles

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • General Chemistry
  • Surfaces and Interfaces

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