Environmental remediation of aqueous nitrate solutions by photocatalytic reduction using Pd/NaTaO3 nanoparticles

NaTaO3 nanoparticles were prepared by an ultrasonic method, and Pd was deposited onto the surface of NaTaO3 via photoassisted deposition. The resulting samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence emission spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis, and surface area measurements. The catalytic performance of the samples in the photoreduction of nitrate under visible light was determined. The UV–vis analysis indicated that a red shift occurred after Pd was loaded onto NaTaO3. The maximum reduction efficiency was 100%, which was obtained using 0.6 wt% Pd/NaTaO3 after a reaction time of 50 min.