Copper nanoparticles supported onto montmorillonite clays as efficient catalyst for methylene blue dye degradation

Abstract

The paper describes the production of copper nanoparticles through the reduction of copper chloride (CuCl2·2H2O) by hydrazine in the aqueous cetyle trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) solution. The copper nanoparticles were then supported on chemically activated Montmorillonite clay (MMT). The native and modified clays as well as synthesized Cu-nanoparticle-clay were structurally and texturally characterized by XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM and TEM in addition to the estimation of exchange capacity parameters. BET surface characterization revealed a decrease in surface area of the clay support after the incorporation of Cu nanoparticles. Cu/clay was then utilized as a catalyst for the degradation of aqueous solutions containing methylene blue (MB) over a wide pH range. Diverse kinetics models were employed to examine the degradation process revealing a better fit with pseudo-first-order model. The present study offers a novel modified clay based catalysts for the degradation of methylene blue dye contaminant from wastewater.