Fabricated metal zeolites as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants

Zeolite frameworks provide an excellent host for metal ions like silver, gold, and copper. The modified zeolites were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, including low-temperature solid-state luminescence, Raman and FT-EXAFS, SEM-EDS, X-Ray fluorescence, along with theoretical calculations. Analyses indicate the formation of metal ion oligomers for the studied silver- and gold-incorporated zeolite catalysts. The oligomer-incorporated zeolites were found to provide strong photocatalytic behavior towards pesticides and chlorinated organic pollutants. Various catalytic parameters like the metal composition, pore diameter, structure, surface area as well as proposed kinetic mechanisms for the photocatalytic reactions are presented in this mini review.