Photocatalytic mineralization study of malachite green on the surface of Mn-doped BiOCl activated by visible light under ambient condition

Manganese doped BiOCl has been synthesized by hydrolysis method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron micrographs (SEM) and diffusive reflectance spectra (DRS) methods. Interesting results have been obtained from diffusive reflectance spectra. XRD results show a decrease in the lattice parameter for Mn-doped BiOCl and UV-vis measurement reveals that there is a shift in the optical absorption edge toward higher wavelength, which indicates a decrease in the band gap upon Mn doping. The increased photocatalytic activity in degradation of malachite green dye by Mn-doped BiOCl might be due to increase in life time of photogenerated electrons and holes due to scavenging of electrons by Mn, charging the particle surface due to electron on the surface, which enhances the adsorption of dye molecules, or/and decreased crystallite size. The effect of key operating parameters have also been investigated. Complete mineralization has been confirmed by COD analysis. An assumptive reaction mechanism has also been proposed. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.