Performance of SiO2/Ag Core/Shell particles in sonocatalalytic degradation of Rhodamine B

Abstract In this study, SiO 2 /Ag Core/Shell nanoparticles was prepared and sonocatalytic activity of prepared catalyst was investigated by using Rhodamine B as model contaminant, at 35 kHz using ultrasonic power of 160 W within 90 min. The change in efficiency in the sonocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B catalyzed by SiO 2 /Ag Core/Shell nanoparticles with respect to the initial concentration of dye, catalyst amount and temperature were firstly investigated. Optimal conditions were found as follows: catalyst amount = 15 mg/L, Temperature = 25 °C and initial concentration of dye = 10 ppm. Influence factors such as pH of solution, O 2 saturation of solution and the concentration of H 2 O 2 added to the solution, on degradation efficiency in presence of catalyst, were investigated. SiO 2 /Ag Core/Shell nanoparticles showed higher sonocatalytic activity at pH = 7 with respect to acidic and alkaline conditions. Degradation efficiency was reached up to 67% in experiments which air pumped (0.6 L/min) through the solution with in 90 min. It was observed that the dye removal increased via increase while H 2 O 2 concentration lower than 10 mM. Higher concentration of H 2 O 2 than the optimal concentration had adverse effect on degradation efficiency. Our results showed that the SiO 2 /Ag Core/Shell nanoparticles were active catalyst for sonocatalytic degradation of dyes. Reusability of the catalyst was investigated.