Development of an empirical kinetic model for sonocatalytic process using neodymium doped zinc oxide nanoparticles

The degradation of Acid Blue 92 (AB92) solution was investigated using a sonocatalytic process with pure and neodymium (Nd)-doped ZnO nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The 1% Nd-doped ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated the highest sonocatalytic activity for the treatment of AB92 (10 mg/L) with a degradation efficiency (DE%) of 86.20% compared to pure ZnO (62.92%) and sonication (45.73%) after 150 min. The results reveal that the sonocatalytic degradation followed pseudo-first order kinetics. An empirical kinetic model was developed using nonlinear regression analysis to estimate the pseudo-first-order rate constant (k_app) as a function of the operational parameters, including the initial dye concentration (5-25 mg/L), doped-catalyst dosage (0.25-1 g/L), ultrasonic power (150-400 W), and dopant content (1-6% mol). The results from the kinetic model were consistent with the experimental results (R² = 0.990). Moreover, DE% increases with addition of potassium periodate, peroxydisulfate, and hydrogen peroxide as radical enhancers by generating more free radicals. However, the addition of chloride, carbonate, sulfate, and t-butanol as radical scavengers declines DE%. Suitable reusability of the doped sonocatalyst was proven for several consecutive runs. Some of the produced intermediates were also detected by GC-MS analysis. The phytotoxicity test using Lemna minor (L. minor) plant confirmed the considerable toxicity removal of the AB92 solution after treatment process.