Synthesis and characterization of PANI and PANI/nanometal oxides, photocatalytic and adsorbent applications

In this study, polymeric nanocomposites of PANI and PANI/nanometal oxides (Fe2O3, NiO, SnO2, WO3, ZrO2) as photocatalysts were synthesized with a chemical polymerization method. Structural characterizations of synthesized polymeric nanocomposites were performed as follows: FT-IR, SEM, TEM and XRD, and TGA. The effect of pure nanometal oxides (Fe2O3, NiO, SnO2, WO3, ZrO2) and polymeric nanocomposites on the degradation of naproxen, the drug active ingredient, was studied under visible light (UV-A at 365 nm) and in the absence of light. In this study, photocatalytic and adsorbent efficiency of polymeric nanometal oxides were investigated. In order to determine the effect of pure nanometal oxide particles and polymeric nanometal oxide composites on naproxen removal in light and dark environments, the percent removal with time was measured, and the band gap energies of each photocatalyst were examined using Tauc curves. Furthermore, the degradation reaction rate kinetic measurements of naproxen in light and dark conditions were carried out. From the experimental results, it was determined that pure nanometal oxides were not effective in light and dark environments, but the synthesized PANI nanometal composites were effective in the removal of naproxen in wastewater in both light and dark environments.