Electrochemical detection of congo red dye and its complete removal from wastewater by photocatalytic and adsorption methods

What is it about?

It is about Electrochemical Detection of Congo Red (member of the azo class of dyes) and its Removal from contaminated water by Photocatalytic and Adsorption Methods. The detection objective is achieved by the designing of an electrochemical sensor comprising of multi-walled carbon nanotubes loaded over the surface of glassy carbon electrode. While the removal objective was achieved by using graphene oxide nanosheets as adsorbent and BaO nanoparticles as photocatalyst. The designed sensing platform was found highly sensitive for congo red detection as authenticated by the LOD value of 0.1 nM. Congo red was photocatalytically removed from wastewater using BaO nanoparticles. The photocatalytic degradation led to 95% removal in 90 minutes under acidic conditions. Adsorption method was also used for wastewater purification from congo red. The adsorption results leading to 100% removal of the dye were modeled to assess the mechanisms and kinetics of adsorption.

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Why is it important?

Congo red dye is an emerging water contaminant that has been reported to cause cytotoxicity (genotoxicity, hemotoxicity, and neurotoxicity), teratogenicity, carcinogenesity, and mutagenicity. It affects the respiratory, reproductive, skin, and eyes among other organs. Congo red lowers blood protein content leading to thrombocytopenia, disseminated micro-embolism, and platelet aggregation. It has an inhibitory effect on the liver-primarily located enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. Therefore, it is an environmental and social responsibility to develop effective methods and materials for purifying wastewater and to reduce the risk of spread of water borne diseases. The current work serves the desired purpose.

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