Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries

Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries

Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye by Cellulose Nanofibers/Nano ZnO/GO Nanobiocomposite

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Fatemeh Taghizadeh 1
Seyed Hassan Sharifi 2
mohammad Soleimani Lashkenari 3
Ghasem Asadpour 1
1 Wood and Paper Science Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resource University, Sari, Iran
2 Wood and Paper Science Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resource University Sari, Iran
3 New Energy Technology Group, faculty of engineering modern technologie, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
10.22034/ijwp.2025.2040630.1681
Abstract
Problem definition and objectives: Various industries widely use dyes for various purposes, and their wastewater contains toxic pollutants. Due to the high stability and toxicity of the dye, its removal from the environment is essential. In this regard, the use of nanocomposites as efficient materials in water treatment processes has received attention. Nanocellulose, as the most abundant natural polymer in the world, has numerous applications in the synthesis of biodegradable nanocomposites and has shown very good results in this field. The combination of nanocellulose with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO), which has photocatalytic properties, and graphene oxide (GO), which acts as a carrier and enhances photocatalytic performance, can significantly increase the efficiency of methylene blue degradation. in this study, nanocomposite of nano cellulose/nano zinc oxide/graphene oxide was used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue dye under visible light.
Methodology: In this study, nanocellulose was prepared from the stem of the tobacco plant, nano zinc oxide was synthesized by the green method and from the extract of the Eryngium planum and also graphene oxide was synthesized by the Homers method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to investigate the nanocomposite structure of nano cellulose/nano zinc oxide/graphene oxide. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images were used to determine the morphology of the synthesized nanocomposite. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis was used to identify the chemical structure and the type of functional groups present in the structure of the synthesized nanoparticles. The effect of different parameters such as decomposition time, initial concentration of methylene blue, catalyst dosage and solution pH on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was studied. Studies on the reusability of the catalyst were also carried out.
Results: The FESEM images obtained from nanocomposite nano cellulose/nano zinc oxide/graphene oxide showed that zinc oxide /graphene oxide nanoparticles were well dispersed among nanocellulose particles. The obtained XRD pattern showed that the synthetic nanocomposite was successfully synthesized according to the standard pattern. The results of the FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of index and main factor groups in the structure of the nanocomposite. The optimal number of parameters under visible light irradiation using a 250 Watt mercury vapor lamp was obtained in the form of catalyst dosage of 0.015 g, initial dye concentration of 5 ppm and pH of 9 a 100 mL solution of the dye. Under these conditions, the nanocomposite showed 98.33% of dye degradation during 60 minutes. After performing three regeneration cycles, the photocatalytic performance of this compound decreases from 98.33% to 94.44%.
Conclusion: It is concluded that the synthesized nanoparticles have a high potential for dye degradation and can be used as an effective photocatalyst for degradation of dyes form colored effluents.
Keywords
Nanobiocomposites
Nano Cellulose
Nano ZnO
GO
Methylene Blue
Photocatalytic Degradation
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Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries
Volume 16, Issue 1
Winter 2025
Pages 125-138