Effect of ZnO/EAF slag doping on removal of methyl red dye (MR) from industrial waste water

Zinc oxide doped with EAF slag (ZnO/ EAF slag) nanoparticles in different contents (10, 20) % of waste were synthesized in a controlled and reproducible way using spin-coater. The produced nanomaterial's physicochemical and structural characteristics were ascertained by means of particle size distribution, TEM, SEM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, and XRF. The role and effect of EAF slag with constant percent doping with ZnO on the ability to remove pollutants was determined by observing the methyl red (MR) elimination in an aqueous solution at λ_max = 413 nm and MR dye removal concentration was evaluated from its optical density. Irradiation of the compounds in sunlight intensity 250 KW/nh.m² and temperature 36 °c resulted in a larger degree of MR removal from the solution, resulting in ZnO/EAF slag samples exhibiting increased photo activity. As a conclusion ZnO nanoparticles saturated with 20% EAF slag as a waste material were the most efficient in removing methyl red (MR) achieving ~ 96% removal and a completely transparent solution after 2 h of testing.