Effects of metal oxide semiconductors on the photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol

Multifarious catalysts including bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), titanium oxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO) and zirconium oxide (ZrO2) were used to investigate the impact on photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) under halogen lamp. The results of photocatalytic reactions were measured by UV–visible spectrophotometer and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The catalysts were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Photoluminescence measurement (PL), scanning and transmission electron microscopy, (SEM-TEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. Further along, the study has been carried on with the most efficient catalysts bismuth oxide, along with it's binary oxide which were prepared by solid-state dispersion method, to the removal of 4-nitrophenol from waste water.