Insight into the photocatalytic properties of diatomite@Ni/NiO composite for effective photo-degradation of malachite green dye and photo-reduction of Cr (VI) under visible light.

Diatomite frustules decorated by nano Ni/NiO nanoparticles (Diatomite@Ni/NiO) were synthesized as a novel photocatalyst for effective degradation of malachite green cationic dye (M.G) and photocatalytic-reduction of Cr (VI) ions. The composite was characterized by different analytical techniques and revealed enhancing in the surface area (400 m2/g), 5.8 nm as average pore diameter and showed lower band gap energy (1.71 eV) than NiO as single phase. The photocatalytic activity of the composite in the removal of M.G and reduction of Cr (VI) was evaluated under visible light considering the pH, illumination time, catalyst mass, and the pollutants concentrations. The results revealed complete removal of 25 mg/L M.G can be achieved using 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg and 50 mg of the after 150 min, 90 min, 60 min, and 30 min, respectively. The complete degradation of 50 mg/L can be obtained after 240 min, 90 min, and 60 min using 20 mg, 40 mg, and 50 mg of the catalyst, respectively. This also was reported for the photocatlytic-reduction of 25 mg/L of Cr(VI) ions as the complete reduction was estimated after 180 min, 60 min and 30 min using 20 mg, 40 mg, and 50 mg, respectively. Also, 50 mg/L of Cr (VI) can be completely reduced after 240 min, 90 min, and 60 min using 20 mg, 40 mg, and 50 mg as catalyst dosage, respectively. The photocatalytic degradation of M.G controlled mainly by the generated electron-hole pairs and the superoxide species while the photocatalytic-reduction of Cr (VI) controlled mainly by the directly excited electrons of Ni/NiO and partially by the formed superoxide radicals. Hence, the synthetic diatomite@Ni/NiO composite can be considered as potential photocatalyst in the degradation of M.G dye and photoreduction of Cr (VI) ions.