Síntese de nanopartículas de óxido de zinco (ZnO) empregando energia micro-ondas

Abstract

The degradation of aquatic chemical contaminants has been one of the great challenges of today, often the best alternative is the so-called Advanced Oxidative Processes (AOP), as they can result in the complete mineralization of the compound to be degraded. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is an example of a semiconductor that can be used in such a process, given its great applicability and potential in the field of electrochemistry. All this potential is due to its important properties, such as having high density, low toxicity, low cost, amphoteric character, being soluble in acids and bases, and under normal pressure conditions, it has a melting point close to 1800°C , thus revealing its thermochemical stability, in addition to a high oxidative capacity and prohibited bandwidth in the UV or visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. ZnO can be obtained from synthesis under microwave radiation. The use of MW provides numerous benefits, such as rapid homogeneous heating, high speed, reactions within a short time, no more than a few minutes. This is due to the ability of microwaves to transfer energy directly to the reactive components, which is not possible with conventional heating methods. This feature reduces possible parallel reactions, thus increasing the reaction selectivity, generating energy savings and greater production efficiency. Syntheses of different combinations of variables were carried out, based on a statistical planning strategy, within a defined range of maximums and minimums. With the synthesized product, analyzes were carried out to evaluate, characterize and prove the formation of the desired material, for possible subsequent application in the photodegradation of organic compounds. Given the analytical results, it was possible to prove that the material of interest was obtained and its potential application power when compared to the theory data.