Breakthrough in Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

Researchers at Bharathidasan University, led by J. Princy Merlin, have made significant strides in developing a ZrMo2O8/g-C3N4 composite for effective photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under LED illumination. This breakthrough has the potential to mitigate environmental pollution and provide a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment.

Key Takeaways:

• The ZrMo2O8/g-C3N4 composite demonstrated a degradation efficiency of 95% for methylene blue within 120 minutes, significantly outperforming pristine g-C3N4.
• The composite exhibited robust stability and reusability, with a degradation efficiency maintained after four cycles.
• Kinetic analysis confirmed pseudo-first-order behavior, with a rate constant (k) of 0.0290 min-1, approximately 3.67 times higher than that of bare ZrMo2O8 (k = 0.0079 min-1).
• UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy revealed a redshift in the absorption edge, and the optical bandgap of the ZrMo2O8/g-C3N4 composite was calculated to be 1.86 eV.
• EPR experiments identified the main species responsible for MB degradation as h+ and OH radicals, while LC-MS revealed intermediates of methylene blue degradation.
• Chickpea seeds (CP) and Artemia salina (AS) were used to assess the toxicity levels of both treated and untreated MB dye solutions, exhibiting strong consistency in assessing the detrimental effects of treatments.

Statistics:

• Degradation efficiency: 95%
• Time required for degradation: 120 minutes
• Rate constant (k): 0.0290 min-1
• Optical bandgap of the ZrMo2O8/g-C3N4 composite: 1.86 eV
• Stability of the composite: four cycles with maintained degradation efficiency

Sources:

• Fabrication of Zrmo2o8-warpped G-c3n4 Composite for Effective Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Under Led Illumination for Environmental Applications. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 2025;77.
• NewsRx. Researchers from Bharathidasan University Report Recent Findings in Photocatalytics (Fabrication of Zrmo2o8-warpped G-c3n4 Composite for Effective Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Under Led Illumination for Environmental Applications). Nanotechnology Weekly. October 27, 2025; p 3737.