Journal of Chemical Engineering & Process Technology
Open Access

Abstract

Synthesis of MgO-ZrO₂ Mixed Nanoparticles via Different Precursors: Identification of their Destructive Action for Organic Pollutants

Islam MI Moustafa and Mohamed R Abdelhamid

Nanocrystalline mixed Magnesium-Zirconyl oxides were prepared by co-precipitation method starting from different organic acid precursors and glycine. The as-prepared nanooxides were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction, TGA-DTA, HR-TEM, electronic absorption spectra and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. The results confirmed the formation of mixed MgO-ZrO2 (cubic, orthorhombic) nanooxides with crystallite size ranging from 10.79-47.55 nm depending on the organic precursors used. The UV-Vis spectroscopy showed the semiconductor nature of the samples with optical energy gap ranging from 2.85-3.00 eV. The morphology and microstructure characteristics were also obtained by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). The products had been tested as destructive adsorbents for the decontamination of Malathion as VX Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) stimulant, where it was found that complete decontamination took place within 240 min. The photoactivity of the prepared samples was assessed by the photocatalytic decomposition of Orange G dye in an aqueous solution under irradiation of UV radiation of 365 nm wavelength.