Degradation of Rhodamine B with SBE/ZnO and O₃/UV Combination Process

Spent Bleaching Earth (SBE) is a waste material that is gaining attention of many researchers due to its abundance that can cause environmental burden. Various method to convert SBE into useful materials are being investigated in attempt to overcome the problem. In this study, a composite of SBE with ZnO (SBE/ZnO) is used in UV/O³-based advance oxidation process (AOP) to degrade an artificial dye wastewater made of Rhodamine B solution. Essential factors influencing catalytic degradation process are pH, catalyst dose, and UV intensity. Batch experiments were carried out applying variations of catalyst dose: 0.2;0.5;1 g/L, and UV intensity; 0.13; 0.15; 0.17 mW/cm² in two repetitions. A 100 mg/L Rhodamine B solution in acidic condition (pH 5) was used. The ozone flowrate was applied at 1 L/min. The results showed that the highest degradation efficiency at pH 5 was 99.87%, achieved when 0.5 g/L catalyst dose, and 0.15 mW/cm² UV intensity was applied.