Assessing The Photocatalytic Activity of Zno/Ha Composites Obtained Through an Advanced Mechano-Chemical Grinding Method

¹ National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection, 294 Splaiul Independenţei Blv, 060031, Bucharest, ROMANIA
² Sustainable Environment Research Group (SERG), Centre of Excellence Geopolymer and Green Technology (CEGeoGTech), Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Jejawi, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: contracte@incdpm.org

Abstract

Wastewater treatment is crucial for the removal of pollutants and microorganisms from wastewater generated by human activities, but the traditional approach of treating contaminated water presents several drawbacks. A continuously developing solution is the use of materials with photocatalytic properties involving an advanced oxidation process (AOP) due to its efficiency in degrading pollutants without generating harmful byproducts. The development of these metal oxide nanoparticles in an economical, sustainable, and ecologically benign manner is the main challenge facing the entire planet. As a result, hydroxyapatite and zinc oxide were combined in different ratios in a ball-mill for 30 min at 400 rpm to create composites that can be activated under solar radiation (UV). Their photocatalytic activity was evaluated for the degradation of an organic pollutant (methyl orange). The ZnO/HA composites demonstrate significant potential for use in AOPs due to its high efficiency in degrading organic pollutants under UV light, achieving a 99% degradation efficiency of methyl orange after 3h of exposure. The proposed simple approach leads to the development of efficient, low-cost filtering composites.