Photocatalytic Remediation of Environmental Pollutants using Perovskite-type CeNi03/rGO Composite

Abstract

The study prepared pristine cerium nickelate (CeNi03) and CeNi03/rGO composite photocatalysts via the hydrothermal method. Three composite photocatalysts were synthesized with varying percentages ofrGO. Physical properties of the prepared samples were examined using powder x ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX). The results demonstrated that the 10% CeNi03/rGO composite photocatalyst exhibited superior performance for the photo degradation of rhodamine B and oxytetracycline. Addition of rGO into CeNi03 improved its stability and photooxidation activity. Photodegradation experiments revealed that 30 mg of 10% CeNi03/rGO photocatalyst completely degraded 10 ppm rhodamine B solution in just 25 minutes, while 30 mg of 10% CeNi03lrGO photocatalyst completely degraded 10 ppm oxytetracycline solution in 30 minutes. The photodegradation of both rhodamine B and oxytetracycline with the 10% CeNi03/rGO photocatalyst followed a pseudo first order kinetics model. Additionally, the CeNi03/rGO photocatalyst showed high stability for up to three cycles.