Synthesis of nanoparticle and modelling of its photocatalytic dye degradation ability from colored wastewater

The photocatalytic dye degradation ability of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticle was evaluated using Basic Blue 41 (BB41) and Basic Red 46 (BR46). The characteristics of Nanoparticle were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optimization of photocatalytic degradation of dyes was conducted using response surface methodology (RSM) and genetic algorithm (GA). Catalyst dosage (0- 0.02g), pH (2.1- 8.5), dye concentration (20- 50ppm) and reaction time (0–180min) were the independent variables that have the significant impact on the dye degradation. Under the optimum conditions the photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of BB41 and BR46 based on RSM were 72.56% and 67.89% respectively, whereas the optimum dye degradation according to GA were 72.36% for BB41 and 68.34% for BR46. The predicted values using RSM and GA are close to the experimental values.