Photocatalytic removal of dyes from wastewater under solar lights by natural clinoptilolite from different regions

Abstract

Due to their structural complexity, chemical stability, and toxicity, organic dyes mostly used in the textile industry, cause serious environmental problems. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) currently appear to offer a high potential for complete degradation of organic dyes. The present work is focused on natural clinoptilolite (CLI) and its unusual photocatalytic activity. CLI from different regions were studied as photocatalysts in the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) as a model cationic dye under visible light at room temperature and atmospheric pressure at different pH. For all CLI samples at pH = 6, the total degradation degree of MB varied from 74 to 88 %, thus indicating a high photocatalytic activity of CLI.