Fabrication of ZnO/Ag photocatalyst and its photocatalytic degradation properties on trimethylamine

ZnO/Ag nanocomposite was prepared via in situ method by using silver nitrate and ZnSO₄ as the raw material. ZnO and ZnO/Ag were characterized by utilizing SEM, UV-vis, XRD, FTIR, and so on. The photocataytic degradation behaviors of ZnO and ZnO/Ag for trimethylamine (TEA) in air and solution were studied. The results indicated that ZnO/Ag had better photocatalytic degradation properties on trimethylamine under the condition of 0.06 g catalyst, 2 h photocatalytic time, and 15 A light intensity, and the degradation rates of TEA were up to 44 and 67% in air and solution, respectively. Furtherly, ZnO and ZnO/Ag also indicated perfect photocatalytic degradation properties toward to organic compounds in wastewater. Especially, the harmless treatment of triethylamine was achieved by using photocatalytic degradation method that provided a novel method for treating triethylamine. In all the above results leaded to a good application prospect of ZnO/Ag in the degradation of organic compounds in air and solution.