Microwave-assisted synthesis of ZnO and its photocatalytic activity in degradation of CTAB

Nanosized zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) was prepared by a microwave irradiation method using zinc nitrate and triethanolamine as starting materials and distilled water as a solvent. The as-prepared powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic degradation of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) using the prepared material under UV irradiation was studied.The effects of ZnO dosage and initial pH on the photodegradation of CTAB were investigated. As the ZnO load increased, the CTAB degradation first increased and then decreased. The optimum ZnO dosage was 3 g L-1. Photodegradation of CTAB is more efficient in slightly alkaline media (pH 9).