SYNTHESIS OF SOME MIXED METAL OXIDES AND THEIR USE IN THE REMOVAL OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS

Abstract

In the present work, copper and zinc mixed oxide catalyst was prepared and characterized using FT-IR, XRD, TGA, SEM and BET. The copper and zinc mixed oxide was used as adsorbent for the removal of organic pollutants like phenol and 2,4-dichiorophenol and dye (Methyl blue) form aqueous solutions. The effect of different operating parameters such as pH and concentration were studied keeping the contact time constant for 24 hours at room temperature. The solution of various concentration of (1 .ox 10 M to 4.0 x 10 M) was prepared at three different p1-1 (4,7 and 9) separately and was mixed with fixed adsorbent dose (50mg/lOml) to investigate the adsorption efficiency of catalyst. Initial pH effect was key condition for adsorption efficiency and maximum efficiency was observed at pH=r4. The equilibrium adsorption concentration amount increases in order of pH (4>7>9) for phenol but (9>7>4) for 2,4-dichlorophenol under the same experimental condition. Similarly for dye (Methyl blue) adsorption, different variables like pH (4-9), equilibrium time (5-60 minutes), concentration (20-100 ppm) and amount of catalyst (10-30 rng) were studied at room temperature. The pH of solution did not show any remarkable change towards dye adsorption. The optimum parameters found to be pHr= 7, equilibrium time= 60 minutes and adsorbent dose= 25 rng. The adsorption was found to be 30-40% in phenol and 2,4-dichlorphenol and approximately 94% in methyl blue. The above all adsorption fits Langrnuir isotherm model. The experimental results confirm that the above mixed oxide can be used as adsorbent for the removal of organic pollutants.