Removal of Brilliant Orange from Aqueous Solution by Prepared and Commercial ZnO

Abstract

Removal of brilliant orange (BO), a typical textile dye from aqueous solution by adsorption as well as photodegradation has been studied by two
ZnO samples, one prepared (p-ZnO) and the other commercial (c-ZnO). The p-ZnO having flaky and porous structures has the capacity to
adsorb the BO, whereas the c-ZnO having crystalline structures has not. Nature of the isotherm also supports the existence of porous structures
of the p-ZnO. However, the BO undergoes photodegradation by both the samples. The overall dye removal efficiency comprising adsorption and
photodegradation of the p-ZnO is slightly higher than that of the c-ZnO. Most interestingly, about 62 % removal of BO from 12.0  10-5 M
aqueous solution with the p-ZnO is reported to occur by only 10 min, whereas 35% removal is found in the case of c-ZnO under the same
conditions.