Photocatalytic reduction of aqueous mercury(II) using multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Pd-ZnO nanocomposite

• MWCNT/Pd-ZnO were used for photocatalytic reduction of Hg2+.
• Photocatalytic reduction of Hg2+ was dependent on wt% of MWCNT, reaction time, and weight of catalyst.
• Catalyst re-use revealed the present photocatalyst remain effective and active after five, cycles.

Pd-ZnO nanocatalyst supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes was successfully synthesized via a modified sol–gel method, and the prepared photocatalyst was used for the environmental remediation of aqueous Hg(II) via photocatalytic reduction under visible light. The prepared MWCNTs/Pd/ZnO nanocomposite photocatalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), transmission electron microscopy, and UV–vis spectra (UV–vis). The results showed that both Pd and ZnO nanoparticles were well dispersed over the MWCNTs, and a uniform nanocomposite was formed. The results also illustrated that Pd doping can eliminate the recombination of electron-hole pairs in the catalyst, and the presence of MWCNTs in ZnO composite can change surface properties to achieve sensitivity to visible light. The results demonstrated that optimum mass ratio of CNT:ZnO:Pd were 0.04:1.0:0.08, which resulted in the exceptional performance of the photocatalyst to reduce about 100% of Hg(II) in a 100 mg L solution within 30 min.

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