Abstract
•Novel Pd supported ceria–ZnO photocatalysts were prepared with different amounts of palladium.•The photocatalytic activity of these catalysts was evaluated for degradation of MTBE in water.•Near complete removal of MTBE was achieved using 1% Pd doped ceria–ZnO catalyst and UV irradiation.•Highest rate constant was obtained in case of 1% Pd doped ceria–ZnO catalyst.•Shape and size of pores are important factors for high photoactivity of catalyst.
A series of binary oxide catalysts (ceria–ZnO) were prepared and doped with different amounts of palladium in the range of 0.5%–1.5%. The prepared catalysts were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and XPS, as well as by N2 sorptiometry study. The XPS results confirmed the structure of the Pd CeO2−x-ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of these catalysts was evaluated for degradation of MTBE in water. These photocatalyst efficiently degrade a 100ppm aqueous solution of MTBE upon UV irradiation for 5h in the presence of 100mg of each of these photocatalysts. The removal of 99.6% of the MTBE was achieved with the ceria–ZnO catalyst doped with 1% Pd. In addition to the Pd loading, the N2 sorptiometry study introduced other factors that might affect the catalytic efficiency is the catalyst average pore sizes. The photoreaction was determined to be a first order reaction.