Heterojunction of Bentonite Clay supported Bi2O3/ZnO composite for the detoxification of azo dyes under UV-A light illumination

Cost effective precipitation and decomposition method was used for the successful synthesis of clay supported Bi-ZnO (CBZO). Synthesized CBZO was exemplified by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Diffuse Reflectance spectra (DRS), Photoluminescence spectra (PL), Energy Dispersive Spectrum (EDS), and BET measurements. The catalytic activity of CBZO was scrutinized for the detoxification of Reactive Yellow 84 (RY 84) & Trypan Blue (TB) dyes in an aqueous solution using UV-A light. The results show that CBZO is more efficient than Clay, Bi-ZnO, commercial ZnO, and bare ZnO at pH 9 for the degradation of RY 84 and TB dyes. Moreover, COD studies were proven the mineralization of dyes. Hence, thedegradation mechanism was developed for RY 84 and TB dyes degradation in the presence of UV-A light. [Display omitted]