Photodegradation and antibacterial properties of zeolite cerium oxide nanocomposite

Abstract

Zeolite cerium oxide (ZEC) nanocomposite was prepared by co-precipitation method and was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transforms infrareds Spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD analysis confirmed the formation of nanocomposite of fluorite structured CeO2 having diameter 25 nm embedded in zeolite matrix. The FTIR spectrum of composite showed metal-oxygen bonds near 400 cm−1. ZEC composite was used as photo-catalyst for the degradation of Malachite Green dye (MG) under sun light. The influence of parameters like initial dye concentration, catalyst dose, pH and time on degradation of dye was monitored. 100% photo degradation efficiency was obtained using MG solution of concentration 60 ppm, 100 mg of ZEC catalyst at pH 10.0 in a time period of 15minutes. The mechanism of dye degradation was found to follow pseudo first order kinetics. The antibacterial activity of ZEC was tested against Bacillus subtilis (B29) and Escherichia coli (E266) bacteria using disc diffusion method. After 24 hrs of bacterial growth, the ZEC composite showed excellent antibacterial activity with inhibition zones of 21 mm and 23 mm against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli respectively.Zeolite cerium oxide (ZEC) nanocomposite was prepared by co-precipitation method and was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transforms infrareds Spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD analysis confirmed the formation of nanocomposite of fluorite structured CeO2 having diameter 25 nm embedded in zeolite matrix. The FTIR spectrum of composite showed metal-oxygen bonds near 400 cm−1. ZEC composite was used as photo-catalyst for the degradation of Malachite Green dye (MG) under sun light. The influence of parameters like initial dye concentration, catalyst dose, pH and time on degradation of dye was monitored. 100% photo degradation efficiency was obtained using MG solution of concentration 60 ppm, 100 mg of ZEC catalyst at pH 10.0 in a time period of 15minutes. The mechanism of dye degradation was found to follow pseudo first order kinetics. The antibacterial activity of ZEC was tested against Bacillus subtilis (B29) and Escherichia coli (E266) bacteria using disc diffusion method. After 24 hrs of ba...