Synthesis of ZnS decorated carbon fibers nanocomposite and its application in photocatalytic removal of Rhodamine 6G from aqueous solutions

.Zinc sulfide/carbon nanofibers ZnS/CNFs composite was successfully synthesized through a facile and simple method. The X-ray diffraction XRD patterns revealed the formation of ZnS decorated CNFs composite. The photocatalytic activity of ZnS/CNFs composite was investigated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine 6G Rh-6G dye in aqueous solutions. The effect of operational parameters such as initial Rh-6G concentration, ZnS/CNFs composite amount, pH and irradiation time were analyzed and optimized by response surface methodology RSM in photocatalysis process. The results revealed that the removal percentage of Rh-6G increased with increasing of ZnS/CNFs composite amount, pH and irradiation time, whereas higher initial dye concentration was unfavorable. The findings also showed that under optimum conditions initial Rh-6G concentration 6 mg L-1, ZnS/CNFs composite amount 1.25 g L-1, pH 8 and irradiation time 48 min and exposure of UV-C light irradiation 20 W m-2, the ZnS/CNFs composite exhibited a remarkable photodegradation of Rh-6G dye in aqueous media 99.17.