Photocatalytic degradation of malachite green dye using zero valent iron doped polypyrrole

Abstract

The zero valent iron doped polypyrrole (Ppy/Fe) was synthesized via chemical oxidative polymerization method in diethylene glycol medium for the first time in this study. The characterization of synthesized Ppy and Ppy/Fe composites was realized by using fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectrometer (DRS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), elemental dispersion X-ray analysis (EDX), four point probe electrical conductivity X-Ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and pH at point of zero charge (pHpzc) methods. These characterizations show that there is an interaction between zero valent iron (Fe0) and Ppy polymer. The photocatalytic activity of synthesized Ppy and Ppy/Fe composite were investigated by degradation of malachite green (MG) dye under UV light irradiation. Ppy/Fe composite was achieved complete degradation within 60 min, which is 5.92 times faster than pure Ppy. The effect of irradiation time, ratio of Ppy and Fe0 in the synthesized composites, photocatalyst amount to photocatalytic efficiency of Ppy/Fe is studied. Also, the photocatalytic stability of Ppy/Fe is investigated under UV light illumination for degradation MG dye.