Photocatalytic removal of single dyes and binary dye mixtures by green synthesized ZnO-based nanocatalysts: A derivative spectrophotometric monitoring approach
Separation and Purification Technology, cilt.416, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 416
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.seppur.2026.140031
- Dergi Adı: Separation and Purification Technology
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, INSPEC, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Cu dopping, Derivative spectroscopy, Green synthesis, Photocatalysis, Zinc oxide nanoparticles
- Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
In this study, for the first time, pure and Cu-doped (0.1–10%) zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were successfully synthesized using a green and environmentally friendly synthesis method employing Ferula elaeochytris Korovin root extract, and their photocatalytic activities were analyzed in binary mixtures (MB–BY28, MB–BR18, and BY28–BR18) simulating single methylene blue, basic yellov 28 ve basic red 18 (MB, BY28, and BR18) and multi-component wastewater environments. In order to overcome the concurrent degradation monitoring issue caused by spectral overlap in dye mixture systems, a first derivative UV–Vis spectrophotometric method was employed. In the presence of 25 mg photocatalyst in a 10 μg/mL MB solution, ZnONP doped with 0.1% copper (Cu) exhibited a dye removal efficiency of 95.80%, while undoped ZnONP showed 85.71% efficiency within 30 min. In photocatalytic studies performed with 0.1% copper-doped ZnONP over 120 min, the MB–BY28 mixture yielded 77.28% removal for MB and 21.87% for BY28; in the MB–BR18 mixture, 71.19% for MB and 56.74% for BR18; and in the BY28–BR18 mixture, 26.53% for BY28 and 63.48% for BR18. Scavenger studies revealed that •O₂− radicals are the dominant reactive species in dye degradation, photogenerated h+ plays a secondary role, and •OH contributes minimally. Additionally, both undoped and 0.1% Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated good reusability, retaining approximately 50% of their initial photocatalytic activity after five cycles under UV light. These findings not only introduce a novel plant-based source for green nanoparticle synthesis, supporting sustainable nanoparticle production, but also highlight the significance of Cu doping in enhancing photocatalytic activity, and present a strategy for utilizing derivative spectrophotometry to facilitate investigation of photocatalyst efficiency and to increase analytical selectivity in multicomponent dye systems.