Solution combustion synthesis of metal tungstates for chromium reduction and dye degradation for environmental remediation

Metal tungstates CuWO4 and ZnWO4 nanoparticles were synthesized by simple, efficient, low temperature solution combustion synthesis using metal nitrate and ammonium tungstate. The prepared samples were characterized by different physicochemical characterization techniques i. e.XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDAX, UV–vis DRS, PL and XPS techniques. The petal and flower like morphology of these samples were obtained by using SEM analysis. Based on this novelty, we have studied the photodegradation of methylene blue and rhodamine B dyes in visible light. Results of photocatalytic dye degradation reaction reveal that both the tungstate’s can be employed as photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. ZnWO4 nanoparticles show comparatively higher activity than that of CuWO4, it may due to structural property as well as completely filled d10 orbital of Zn. Both CuWO4 as well as ZnWO4 were also applied to reduce toxic Cr(VI) into harmless Cr(III). This work implemented for the betterment of environmental remediation to the society.