Adsorptional photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue onto pectin-CuS nanocomposite under solar light

This study describes the effect of adsorption on methylene blue degradation using pectin-CuS nanocomposite (PCSNC). The nanocomposite was synthesized using co-precipitation methods followed by direct encapsulation with pectin. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR and UV-vis spectral technique. The adsorption and photocatalytic efficiencies of PCSNC were compared with copper sulphide nanoparticle (CSNP). The dye removal was studied under different reaction conditions. The adsorption capacity of pectin based nanocomposite was higher due to other free functional group on pectin surface after connecting to nanoparticles. The simultaneous adsorption and photodegradation process (A. +. P) was the most efficient process due to rapid destruction of adsorbed dye molecules. The complete COD removal was attained in 10. h using PCSNC/A. +. P process. On comparing with CSNP, pectin-CuS nano composite showed more degradation efficiency and reusability for MB degradation. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.