Fabrication of Nanosized Reactive Nickel Oxide Composite Particles for Degradation of Textile Dye

Abstract

In this research we focused on to develop new nanocomposite materials that have capacity to de-colorize and degrade industrial effluent. At first NiO nanoparticle were synthesized by simple liquid phase process using Ni(NO₃)₂.6H₂O and NH₄OH followed by calcinations of the produced Ni(OH)₂ as precursor at 400°C. NiO nanoparticles were modified to produce NiO/SiO₂ nanocomposite particles. Finally tri-layered inorganic/organic nanocomposite particles were prepared by seeded polymerization of epoxide functional monomer, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in presence of NiO/SiO₂ nanocomposite seed particles. The composite particles were named as NiO/SiO₂/PGMA and the obtained particles were utilized as a photocatalyst for the UV-light assisted degradation of congo red (CR), a model azo dye. Degradation efficiency decreased with the increase of initial CR concentration and a maximum efficiency of 100% was achieved when the CR concentration was 40 mg/L.