PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF LEAD USING ZINC OXIDE MODIFIED WITH LIGNIN

ABSTRACT

In this study, the focus was on extracting lignin from peanut shells and characterizing a composite photocatalyst comprising lignin and zinc oxide semiconductor for treating heavy metal wastewater. Various analytical techniques, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and X-ray Fluorescence (XFR), were utilized to collect experimental data. The XRD patterns indicated a hexagonal unit cell structure for the ZnO nanoparticles. SEM-EDX images provided insights into the morphology and particle size of the prepared ZnO nanoparticles. FTIR analysis was employed to observe nanoparticle formation, identifying peaks at various wavenumbers, with the highest peak at 2111.72 cm-1. BET analysis was instrumental in comprehending the properties of the composite, while XRF facilitated an understanding of the elemental composition of the composite material.