title: Development of an empirical kinetic model for sonocatalytic process using neodymium doped zinc oxide nanoparticles.
abstract: The degradation of Acid Blue 92 (AB92) solution was investigated using a sonocatalytic process with pure and neodymium (Nd)-doped ZnO nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The 1% Nd-doped ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated the highest sonocatalytic activity for the treatment of AB92 (10 mg/L) with a degradation efficiency (DE%) of 86.20% compared to pure ZnO (62.92%) and sonication (45.73%) after 150 min. The results reveal that the sonocatalytic degradation followed pseudo-first order kinetics. An empirical kinetic model was developed using nonlinear regression analysis to estimate the pseudo-first-order rate constant (kapp) as a function of the operational parameters, including the initial dye concentration (5-25 mg/L), doped-catalyst dosage (0.25-1 g/L), ultrasonic power (150-400 W), and dopant content (1-6% mol). The results from the kinetic model were consistent with the experimental results (R(2)=0.990). Moreover, DE% increases with addition of potassium periodate, peroxydisulfate, and hydrogen peroxide as radical enhancers by generating more free radicals. However, the addition of chloride, carbonate, sulfate, and t-butanol as radical scavengers declines DE%. Suitable reusability of the doped sonocatalyst was proven for several consecutive runs. Some of the produced intermediates were also detected by GC-MS analysis. The phytotoxicity test using Lemna minor (L. minor) plant confirmed the considerable toxicity removal of the AB92 solution after treatment process.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory of Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment Processes, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, 51666-16471 Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: a_khataee@tabrizu.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khataee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, 51579-44533 Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Behrouz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vahid
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory of Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment Processes, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, 51666-16471 Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saadi
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 712-749 Gyeongsan, South Korea. Electronic address: swjoo@yu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Joo
mesh_terms: D029064:Araceae / Q000187:drug effects; D002384:Catalysis; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009354:Neodymium / Q000737:chemistry*; D000069453:Ultrasonic Waves; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D009354:Neodymium; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Degradation; Kinetic modeling; Non-linear regression; Sonocatalyst; ZnO nanoparticles