Preparation, Characterization and Photocatalytic Study of Modified Diatomite with In2O3

In2O3-modified diatomite nanomaterials with different indium oxide contents were prepared via an efficient sonochemical technique. Diatomite is a biologically originated mineral composed of the skeleton remains of aquatic organisms called diatoma. The as-prepared compounds were analyzed by means of energy dispersive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques. As indicated by XRD, diatomite phase and indium oxide peaks were observed. The BET specific surface area and pore volume of In2O3-coated diatomite are greater than those of pure diatom. The surface morphology and high porosity of diatom can be utilized as templates to boost the potential of functional materials. The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared compounds were assessed for the decolorization of methylene blue (MB). The effect of various factors, such as different scavenger, initial dye concentration and catalyst amount, was investigated. The results revealed that diatomite modified with indium oxide can be used in different experimental runs without an essential drop in photocatalytic activity.