Bio-Assisted Synthesis and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO–Bentonite Nanocomposite in a Digital Baffle Catalytic Reactor for Organic Pollutant Removal

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Muthanna/Iraqi

2 1 Chemical and Petrochemical Dep, Basrah Technical College, Southern Technical University, Basrah, Iraq.

3 Chemical and Petrochemical Dep, Basrah Technical College, Southern Technical University, Basrah, Iraq.

4 Chemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Al-Muthanna University, Al-Muthanna, Iraq

5 Shatt Al-Arab University College, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

In this work, a sustainable precipitation method was used to prepare a zinc oxide–bentonite clay (ZnO/BT) composite and to evaluate its catalytic performance in a digitally controlled baffle photocatalytic reactor (DBPCR) for hybrid adsorption and photo-oxidation degradation. The prepared composite was characterized using XRD, FTIR, BET, FE-SEM, and DRS to explain its structure and properties. The working parameters, including pH, process time, temperature, and dose was analyzed by Box-Behnken design from the response surface methodology to maximize organic removal. The new reactor design provided superior mixing and light distribution, promoting combined physical and chemical treatment. The new composite achieved an excellent removal efficiency of 99.7% for organic pollutants in refinery wastewater (RWW), compared with 90.5% for nano clay (80–100 nm particle size and less than 150 nm). The results indicate that photo-oxidation degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, attributed to enhanced interfacial charge transfer, reduced electron–hole recombination during photo-oxidation, and increased free radical formation. The combination of sustainable preparation with a baffled digital oxidation reactor demonstrates a viable, high-performance technique for organic remediation. This nano composite displays excellent stability and can be recycled over multiple cycles, more than six times, with organic removal of more than 82.5%, emphasizing its potential for large-scale industrial applications in adsorption/oxidation processes and ecological catalysis for wastewater treatment.

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Main Subjects

Progress in Color, Colorants and Coatings

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 July 2026

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