In the present study, ZnO nanostructures were ultrasonically synthesized and immobilized on the surface of diatomite and used for visible light photocatalysis of Acid Red 88 (AR88) in the aqueous phase. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were employed for characterization of the samples. The process was optimized via response surface methodology (RSM) on the basis of central composite design (CCD). Based on numerical optimization, for the maximized color removal of 96% the initial dye concentration, the catalyst dosage, the reaction time, and the initial pH were 13 mg/L, g/L, 85 min, and 4, respectively. |
