Feasibility of using a rotating packed bed in preparing coupled ZnO/SnO2 photocatalysts

In this work, coupled ZnO/SnO2 photocatalysts were prepared in a rotating packed bed (RPB) via co-precipitation. The precursors of coupled ZnO/SnO2 photocatalysts were formed from solutions of zinc sulfate, tin tetrachloride and sodium hydroxide. The calcinations of these precursors yielded coupled ZnO/SnO2 photocatalysts. The effect of calcination temperature on the characteristics and photocatalytic activity of coupled ZnO/SnO2 photocatalysts was studied. The photocatalytic activity of coupled ZnO/SnO2 photocatalysts was evaluated using the photocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue. The experimental results reveal that coupled ZnO/SnO2 photocatalysts that were obtained by calcination at 600 °C for 10 h were the most efficient in decolorizing methylene blue.