An investigation into an alternative photocatalyst based on CeO2/Al2O3 in dye degradation

This study aimed at evaluating an alternative catalyst based on CeO2/Al2O3 in methylene blue photodegradation. Samples with 6, 12 and 24 wt% ceria on alumina were synthesized and characterized by BET surface area, XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, EDS, TEM and point of zero charge. Photocatalyst tests were performed under UV radiation from a mercury lamp and monitored by UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Different pH conditions were evaluated. A first order kinetic model was used for fitting and analyzing experimental data. The sample with the highest CeO2 loading had the highest activity at neutral pH in the methylene blue photodegradation process and reached 93% degradation. Electrons photogenerated in CeO2 and the resulting holes interacted with medium molecules to form radicals that started dye degradation. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.