Aplicação do fotocatalisador CuO/Co3O4 na degradação do corante Reactive Black 5

Resumo

This study investigates the application of a CuO/Co₃O₄-based photocatalyst for the degradation of the azo dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5). The catalyst was prepared through a simple physical mixture of commercial CuO nanoparticles and Co₃O₄ nanopowder. The resulting material was characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Photocatalytic experiments were conducted in a solar simulator equipped with a 150 W xenon lamp, under varying pH and temperature conditions. The CuO/Co₃O₄ composite demonstrated superior efficiency in both the decolorization and mineralization of RB5 compared to the individual oxides. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic interaction between CuO and Co₃O₄, which promotes more effective charge separation and light absorption. These findings highlight the potential of this binary system as a promising and sustainable approach for advanced wastewater treatment technologies.