Rapid oxidative degradation of methylene blue by various metal oxides doped with vanadium

Abstract

Nanoparticles of ZrO₂, CeO₂ and TiO₂ doped with vanadium were synthesized and the physicochemical properties of the compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB), an organic dye, in the presence of these materials and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as a green oxidant was studied at room temperature. The effects of solution pH, catalyst composition and radical scavenging agents on the degree of degradation of MB were also studied. Finally, the recoverability and reusability of the V-doped ZrO₂ catalyst were analysed.