OBTAINING ZINC AND COPPER OXIDES IN A GLOW DISCHARGE ON THE SURFACE OF ZEOLITES FOR THE DECOMPOSITION OF METHYLENE BLUE

A new method for producing complex copper and zinc oxides on the surface of NaX zeolite is presented. Zeolites were immersed in a solution of copper and zinc nitrates for several hours, after which they were dried for 24 h. Zeolites coated with nitrates were treated with atmospheric pressure glow discharge in air for 10 min. After plasma treatment, the zeolites changed their color. Changes in surface morphology were studied using scanning electron microscopy. It has been shown that complex nano-sized structures are formed on the surface, which, according to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, are copper and zinc oxides. Determination of the specific surface area (BET) and pore size distribution showed that plasma treatment of zeolites with nitrates deposited on them leads to a decrease in the area of micropores and a decrease in mesopores. The photocatalytic activity was tested using the example of the decomposition of methylene blue dye. Thus, the irradiation of a solution of methylene blue with light for 180 min without zeolite did not show any change in the optical density of the solutions, as did shadow studies. After 180 min, 70.3% of the dye on zeolite with copper oxide and 83.8% on zeolite with zinc oxide decomposed. The best results were shown by samples with zeolites coated with complex copper and zinc oxide, where photodecomposition was 87.9% after 180 min of light irradiation. For citation: Smirnova K.V., Lebedev Yu.A. Obtaining zinc and copper oxides in a glow discharge on the surface of zeolites for the decomposition of methylene blue. ChemChemTech [Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Khim. Khim. Tekhnol.]. 2025. V. 68. N 9. P. 75-82. DOI: 10.6060/ivkkt.20256809.7118.