Photocatalytic activity of PbMoO4 molybdate synthesized by microwave method

Lead molybdate powders (PbMoO4) with scheelite-type structure were successfully synthesized at low temperatures by using microwave irradiation (MW) in ethylene glycol medium. The resulting powders were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and adsorption–desorption N2 isotherms (BET). PbMoO4 was tested as photocatalyst under UV irradiation for the degradation reaction of rhodamine B (rhB), indigo carmine (IC), orange G (OG), and methyl orange (MO). The bleaching of the organic dye solutions over PbMoO4 photocatalyst was quickly reached for rhB, IC, and OG with half-life times (t1/2) shorter than 7 min. On the other hand, MO shows a recalcitrant behavior to photocatalytic degradation with t1/2 = 172 min. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis of samples irradiated revealed that mineralization of organic dyes by the action of PbMoO4 is feasible in 67% (rhB), 83% (IC), 55% (OG), and 60% (MO) after 96 h of UV irradiation.

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► PbMoO4 was synthesized by using microwave irradiation in ethylene glycol medium.
► Bleaching of the organic dye solutions over PbMoO4 was quickly reached.
► PbMoO4 photocatalyst was able to mineralize rhB, IC, OG and MO.