Heterogeneous photodecolorization of mixture of methylene blue and bromophenol blue using CuO-nano-clinoptilolite

CuO was incorporated into nano-particles of clinoptilolite via ion exchange and calcination processes. The obtained composite (CuO-NCP) was used for the photodeclorization process of an aqueous mixture of Methylene Blue and Bromophenol Blue. All samples were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, DRS, SEM and SEM. The optimum conditions were approximated as: 7 ppm dyes, pH 5.9, catalyst dose of 0.2 g L-1 and CuO loading of 4.9%. The declorization extents of 61% and 32% were respectively obtained for MB and BPB during 180 min irradiation. The degradation extent was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy and confirmed by chemical oxygen demand (COD). (C) 2013 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.