Degradation reactive black 5 dye in water via persulfate-activated Ni-Cu catalysts /

The widespread use of synthetic dyes across various industries has raised significant environmental concerns. Azo dyes make up 60–70% of all organic dyes and are frequently utilized because of their affordable price, structural adaptability, high molar extinction coefficients, and acceptable color durability[1]. However, their chemical stability also makes them persistent and resistant in natural environments [2]. One such azo dye is Reactive Black 5 (RB5), a complex compound with a molecular formula C₂₆H₂₁N₅Na₄O₁₉S₆ and a molar mass of 991.82 g/mol. Due to its two azo bonds and chemical structure, RB5 is particularly resistant to conventional wastewater treatment methods [3]. In this study, an advanced oxidation process (AOP) based on a heterogeneous Fenton-like mechanism was employed to degrade RB5 in aqueous solution. This approach relies on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which effectively mineralize organic pollutants into carbon dioxide and water. Two types of Ni-Cu bimetallic catalysts were synthesized: one via a conventional co-precipitation method and the other using an advanced Fluidized Bed Homogeneous Crystallization (FBHC) technique. The catalysts were characterized using SEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, and XPS to evaluate their morphology, structure, and surface properties. [...].