Improved Photocatalytic Properties of Bismuth Molybdate Prepared by using High Energy Ball Milling Technique for Degradation of Rhodamine B

Abstract

Bismuth molybdate (Bi₂MoO₆) was prepared through the solid-state route in the stoichiometric ratio followed by ball milling. The high-energy ball milling reduced the crystalline size from 96 to 35nm and increased the surface area from 0.351616 to10.7256 m²/g in 5h. No structural change was observed. The comparative study of the photo catalytic activity for the decolorization of Rhodamine B (RhB) in the presence of UV light has been done by employing 5h milled Bi₂MoO₆ and unmilled Bi₂MoO₆ as a catalyst has been done. The dye degradation was observed by a decrease in the absorption spectrum and decolorization in the presence of UV irradiation. The 5h milled Bi₂MoO₆ proved to be the efficient photocatalyst over unmilled Bi₂MoO₆. The degradation efficiency of the unmilled and 5h ball milled (Bi₂MoO₆) catalyst, observed in RhB was found to be 30 and 80% respectively. The degradation efficiency was found to be dependent on the size of the catalyst added in the dye solution may be due to increased surface area provided the increased number of active sites for the reaction. Therefore, 5h ball-milled Bi₂MoO₆ can act as a catalyst for the treatment of noxious and imperishable organic pollutants in water.