Preparation of MoO₃/MoS_2-E composite for enhanced photoelectrocatalytic removal of antimony from petrochemical wastewaters

Authors: SEVİL AKÇAĞLAR

Abstract: By doping of MoO₃ to MoS_2-E, MoO₃/MoS_2-E composite was produced to treat the antimony (Sb⁺⁵) from raw petrochemical industry wastewater. The effects of increasing MoO₃/MoS_2-E composite concentrations (0.01, 0.06, 0.50, 1.20, and 6 mg/L), times (5 min, 10 min, 20 min, 60 min, 80 min), and simulated sun light powers (2, 15, and 26 mW/m²) on the removal of Sb⁺⁵ was researched. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD), MoS_2-E exhibited a pure hexagonal structure with peaks at 2θ data of 15.56, 33.78, 40.59, and 61.43 cm^-1 while MoO₃ peaks showed similar configuration with the orthorhombic stage. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze the chemical composition. After Sb⁺⁵ removal, the additional MoO₃ peaks were determined at 680, 967, and 997 cm^-1. XPS spectra showed that after an oxidation period, "MoS_2-E" was generated. Binding energy analysis showed that Mo⁵⁺ ions were produced from the partial transformation of MoO₃. The MoO₃ exhibited a vertical stacking on the MoS_2-E. The filtered MoS_2-E graph and relevant fast Fourier transfer pictures showed octahedral phase containing a proton. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis results showed that nano MoO₃ exhibited a nanobelt structure. The maximum 10 mg/L Sb⁺⁵ removal was 93% at 1.20 mg/L MoO₃/MoS_2-E composite concentration at pH = 9 after 20 min at 15 mW/m² simulated sunlight power via photoelectrocatalysis while the maximum Sb⁺⁵ removal via adsorption was detected as 80% for the same operational conditions in unilluminated conditions.

Keywords: Photoelectrocatalytic, MoO₃/MoS_2-E, antimony, XRD, wastewater

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