Synthesis, characterization and investigation photocatalytic degradation of Nitro Phenol with nano ZnO and ZrO2

ZnO and ZrO2 photo catalysts were synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion method. The products were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Structural and morphological properties of nano particles were investigated and the average crystalline size of ZnO and ZrO2 was obtained 44 and 51 nm, respectively. Also, photo catalytic degradation of Nitro phenol from aqueous solution by using nano scale ZnO and ZrO2 powders under UV-C light irradiation was studied and degradation of Nitro phenol was 98% for ZnO in 40 minutes and 83% in 100 min for ZrO2.