Synthesis of copper-loaded activated carbon for enhancing the photocatalytic removal of methylene blue

To enhance the photocatalytic performance of Cu2O, the spent activated carbon (SAC) directly supported CuO powder and then was heated by microwaves to prepare an economical photocatalyst copper-loaded activated carbon (Cu/AC). The prepared Cu/AC catalyst was characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and the zero charge point (pHpzc). The analysis results indicated that Cu/AC had an important specific surface area of 1135 m2/g and mainly contained Cu2O and metallic copper (Cu0). The Cu2O particles were successfully loaded on the activated carbon. The photocatalytic activity of prepared Cu/AC was evaluated by means of methylene blue (MB) degradation. The effects of reaction parameters such as the pH, initial concentration and dose of Cu/AC were investigated for dye degradation. The data showed that the MB solutions were degraded using Cu/AC under UV irradiation. These results indicated that the Cu/AC photocatalyst may be conceived as a method for the treatment of dye wastewater.