Green Synthesis of Ceria Nanoparticles Using Allium sativum Extract: Adsorption and Photo Fenton Degradation of Congo Red Dye

Present study targets the synthesis of ceria nanoparticles by sol-gel method using aqueous Allium sativum (garlic) extract and to study the application of the synthesized samples in Congo Red dye removal from water via adsorption as well as photo Fenton degradation. The structural, optical and electronic properties of the ceria samples prepared using different amounts of the garlic extract were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm methods. The results showed that the synthesized cubic fluorite ceria nanoparticles are spherical with particle sizes between 10 nm to 40 nm. N2 adsorption studies revealed the mesoporous nature of the ceria samples having narrow slit-like pores. The synthesized materials are having both adsorption and photo Fenton activity in the removal of a model pollutant Congo red. Effect of different reaction parameters such as time, ceria dosage, the volume of dye solution and dye concentration on the percentage removal was studied in both cases. A maximum of 96% Congo red was removed by adsorption and 100% dye was removed by photo Fenton degradation by using the best CeO2 sample.