Controlled Synthesis of Novel Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles for the Photodegradation of Organic Dyes

Water bodies are being poisoned by a variety of organic and inorganic pollutants in the modern era of industrial civilization. To solve this vital issue, various scientists and researchers have come up with an eco-friendly method of photocatalysis which is a promising strategy for the removal of organic pollutants especially organic dyes from wastewater. In the present work, we report the enhanced photocatalytic activity of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets synthesized via a simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly method. The photocatalytic ability to degrade Malachite green (MG) and Congo red (CR) was investigated as such dyes are primary chemical pollutants in the textile industry. To optimize the conditions for the best performance, experimental variables such as contact time, dye solution concentration, catalyst dose, and pH were adjusted. The present investigation reveals that GO synthesized by the novel route is an extremely efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of MG and CR and observed 100% degradation of MG in 60 min and 85% degradation of CR in 90 min under UV irradiation. The present investigation explores the potential of graphene oxide-based composite materials for future energy and environmental remediation.