Enhancement photocatalytic activity of CeO2 2 infused CA@Gelatin nanocomposites for the degradation of organic dyes under UV-light irradiation

In the present study, facile 100 % recoverable handpicked CeO2/CA@GEL 2 /CA@GEL (CA; Cellulose acetate, GEL; Gelatine) nanocomposite thin film photocatalyst were successfully synthesized by simple solution cast method. The efficacy of the CeO2/CA@GEL 2 /CA@GEL was tested against the photodegradation of organic dyes viz Crystal violet (CV) and Rhodamine-B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The CeO2/CA@GEL 2 /CA@GEL exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, durability and utmost 80.52 % (CV) and 82.65 % (RhB) degradation of the dye solution was achieved within 60 min. The CeO2/CA@GEL 2 /CA@GEL showed the excellent degradation efficiency compared to pure CeO2 2 Nanoparticles. The reactive oxidative species involved in the photocatalytic reaction is superoxide radical anion (O2 2 radical) and OH radical under visible light irradiation by trapping experiments. The 100 % recovery of the photocatalyst was achieved by simple handpicking process and stable unto its 3rd usage.