Photoelectrocatalytic decolorization and degradation of textile effluent using ZnO thin films

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been successfully deposited onto fluorine doped tin oxide coated glass at substrate temperature of 400 °C and used as electrode in photoelectrocatalytic reactor. The untreated textile effluent was circulated through photoelectrocatalytic reactor under UVA illumination for the decolorization and degradation. Textile effluent was decolorized by 93% within 3 h at room temperature with significant reduction in COD (69%). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of samples before and after decolorization confirmed the degradation of dyes molecules from textile effluent into simpler oxidizable products. Phytotoxicity study revealed reduction in toxic nature of textile effluent after treatment.

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► Zinc oxide thin films have been deposited onto FTO coated glasses.
► Textile effluent is decolorized by 93% in 3 h with significant reduction in COD.
► The degraded dye molecules from textile effluent are simpler oxidizable products.
► Phytotoxicity study reveals reduction in toxic textile effluent.