Simultaneous conversion of organic dye and Cr(VI) by SnO2/rGO microcomposites

• SnO2/rGO microcomposites (SnG) photocatalyst were synthesized by a direct surface chemical reaction.
• The SnO2/rGO microcomposites have shown high efficiency in simultaneous MO or Rh B and Cr(VI) degradation.
• Influencing of pH value of simultaneous degradation is well discussed.
• The possible mechanism of simultaneous degradation was briefly discussed.

This work investigated the simultaneous conversion of organic dyes (methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (Rh B)), and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) by using the SnO2/rGO (SnG) photocatalyst. The effects of the mixture ratios of organic dye and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), and pH value of the mixture to the simultaneous degradation and reduction process were investigated systematically. The existing experimental results proved that there was a synergistic effect between the photocatalytic degradation of the given organic dyes (MO and Rh B) and reduction of Cr(VI). And also, the low pH value is able to significantly improve the removal rate of organic dyes and Cr(VI) in the mixture systems. At the same time, the possible mechanism of the effect of the different organic dyes and pH value on the photocatalytic reduction efficiency of Cr(VI) was briefly discussed.

SnG acts as an electron transfer mediator from the excited organic dye to hexavalent chromium Cr (VI).Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (140 K)Download as PowerPoint slide