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In recent years, photocatalytic
oxidation using semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) has gained global
attention as a method for wastewater treatment. In view of this, the
present work reports the results of the investigations on the use of
cobalt oxide (CoO) NPs on the photocatalytic degradation of methyl
violet (MV). The CoO NPs were synthesized by a hydrothermal route
and were then characterized using Fourier-transform infrared,
ultraviolet diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible,
Raman, X-ray diffraction, vibrating-sample magnetometer,
transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope, and
Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) techniques. The NPs were
found to be spherical and in size range of 3–5 nm. The NPs were also
subject to calcination in the temperature range of 150–350°C. The
temperature of calcination seemed to influence the surface
composition of CoO. Both calcined and uncalcined CoO NPs were then
subject to studies on the degradation of MV. The CoO 350 NPs
exhibited the best photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 73% for
the degradation of MV.
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