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https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/boms/039/06/1507-1513

C$_3$N$_4$; ZnO; thermal pyrolysis; photocatalysis; ecotoxicity.

The C$_3$N$_4$/ZnO composite photocatalysts were synthesized by mechanical milling combined with a calcination process. Various ratios of melamine and ZnO powders were milled by a planetary ball mill for 10 h. Afterheating at 540$^{\circ}$C for 3 h in air, melamine was converted to C3N4 but the formation of C$_3$N$_4$ depended on the ratios of the melamine and ZnO (M/Z) powders. From the experimental results, the conversion of melamine to C$_3$N$_4$ could be inhibited by ZnO particles; as there was no detectable C$_3$N$_4$ in the sample at low M/Z values or high ZnO contents. The photocatalytic activities of prepared samples were investigated under the illumination of blacklight and fluorescent lamps as the low wattage light source. The C$_3$N$_4$/ZnO showed a better photocatalytic activity than ZnO to degrade a methylene blue (MB) dye solution using blacklight lamps, but there is no significant difference in photocatalytic activities between ZnO and prepared C$_3$N$_4$/ZnO under visible light by the fluorescent lamps. However, the prepared C$_3$N$_4$/ZnO can well function under illumination by Xe lamp as the high power light source. Ecotoxicities of MB solutions before and after photocatalytic process were also studied through growth inhibition of the alga Chlorella vulgaris.

PONGSATON AMORNPITOKSUK^{1 2} SUMETHA SUWANBOON³ URAIWAN SIRIMAHACHAI¹ CHAMNAN RANDORN⁴ KASIDID YAEMSUNTHORN⁴

1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
2. Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
3. Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
4. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Published

15 October 2016

Manuscript received

18 November 2015

Accepted

4 April 2016