Synthesis of hybrid carbon nanotubes using Brassica juncea L. application to photodegradation of bisphenol A

Qu, Jiao; Luo, Chunqiu; Yuan, Xing

Synthesis of hybrid carbon nanotubes using Brassica juncea L. application to photodegradation of bisphenol A

2013

Qu, Jiao | Luo, Chunqiu | Yuan, Xing

Hyperaccumulators contain tubular cellulose and heavy metals, which can be used as the sources of carbon and metals to synthesize nanomaterials. In this paper, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), Cu₀.₀₅Zn₀.₉₅O nanoparticles, and CNTs/Cu₀.₀₅Zn₀.₉₅O nanocomposites were synthesized using Brassica juncea L. plants, and the ultraviolet (UV)-light-driven photocatalytic degradations of bisphenol A (BPA) using them as photocatalysts were studied. It was found that the outer diameter of CNTs was around 50 nm and there were a few defects in the crystal lattice. The synthesized Cu₀.₀₅Zn₀.₉₅O nanocomposites had a diameter of around 40 nm. Cu₀.₀₅Zn₀.₉₅O nanocomposites have grown on the surface of the CNTs and the outer diameter of them was around 100 nm. The synthesized hybrid carbon nanotubes using B. juncea could enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic degradation on BPA. The complete equilibration time of adsorption/desorption of BPA onto the surface of CNTs, Cu₀.₀₅Zn₀.₉₅O nanoparticles, and CNTs/Cu₀.₀₅Zn₀.₉₅O nanocomposites was within 30, 20, and 30 min, and approximately 14.9, 8.7, and 17.4 % BPA was adsorbed by them, respectively. The combination of UV light irradiation (90 min) with CNTs, Cu₀.₀₅Zn₀.₉₅O nanoparticles, and CNTs/Cu₀.₀₅Zn₀.₉₅O nanocomposites could lead to 48.3, 75.7, and 92.6 % decomposition yields of BPA, respectively. These findings constitute a new insight for synthesizing nanocatalyst by reusing hyperaccumulators.

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