Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes by PEG and PVP Capped Cu, Ni and Ag Nanoparticles in the Presence of NaBH4 in Aqueous Medium

Photocatalysis mediated by metal nanoparticles is emerging as an effective method for the removal of hazardous dye pollutants in natural aquatic bodies. Nanoparticles of Cu, Ni, and Ag were synthesized by chemical methods using PEG and PVP polymers as capping agents. Experimental photocatalysis was carried out in a single pot batch reactor using metal nanoparticle catalysts for the degradation of crystal violet (CV), bromocresol green (BCG), and methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution in the presence of NaBH4 reductant independently under solar and UV irradiations at 25oC. Metal nanoparticles caused the removal of BCG and CV in 90-120 min and MB in 30-60 min. A linear relationship between the irradiation time and the absorbance was recorded and the kinetic plots exhibited pseudo-first-order kinetic. The trend of dye degradation among the nanoparticles based on the catalytic efficiency (ϕc) and rate coefficient (k) values was Cu>Ag>Ni. Mineralization experiments indicated 94, 91, and 90% of the TOC removal ratio (R) respectively for CV, MB, and BCG dyes. Nanoparticles stabilized using PEG demonstrated better catalytic efficiency than those with PVP. Solar irradiation showed a superior augmenting effect on the nanoparticle catalysts than the UV irradiation. The electron-hole pair mediated reduction mechanism was proposed as a basis for dyes photocatalytic degradation.