Preparation of MoO(3)/MoS(2-E) composite for enhanced photoelectrocatalytic removal of antimony from petrochemical wastewaters

By doping of MoO(3) to MoS(2-E), MoO(3)/MoS(2-E) composite was produced to treat the antimony (Sb(+5)) from raw petrochemical industry wastewater. The effects of increasing MoO(3)/MoS(2-E) composite concentrations (0.01, 0.06, 0.50, 1.20, and 6 mg/L), times (5 min, 10 min, 20 min, 60 min, 80 min), and simulated sun light powers (2, 15, and 26 mW/m(2)) on the removal of Sb(+5) was researched. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD), MoS(2-E) exhibited a pure hexagonal structure with peaks at 2Ɵ data of 15.56, 33.78, 40.59, and 61.43 cm(−1) while MoO(3) peaks showed similar configuration with the orthorhombic stage. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze the chemical composition. After Sb(+5) removal, the additional MoO(3) peaks were determined at 680, 967, and 997 cm(−1). XPS spectra showed that after an oxidation period, “MoS(2-E)” was generated. Binding energy analysis showed that Mo(5+) ions were produced from the partial transformation of MoO(3.) The MoO(3) exhibited a vertical stacking on the MoS(2-E). The filtered MoS(2-E) graph and relevant fast Fourier transfer pictures showed octahedral phase containing a proton. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis results showed that nano MoO(3) exhibited a nanobelt structure. The maximum 10 mg/L Sb(+5) removal was 93% at 1.20 mg/L MoO(3)/MoS(2-E) composite concentration at pH = 9 after 20 min at 15 mW/m(2) simulated sunlight power via photoelectrocatalysis while the maximum Sb(+5) removal via adsorption was detected as 80% for the same operational conditions in unilluminated conditions.