PHOTOCATALYTIC METHYL ORANGE DEGRADATION ACTIVITY OF CuNb_2O_6 PREPARED BY THE SOLID STATE REACTION

Copper niobate photocatalyst was prepared using the solid state reaction method and its activity was evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange.Mole ratio n(Cu)/n(Nb),calcination temperature,calcination time,photocatalyst concentration,and irradiation time were investigated according to photocatalytic efficiencies.The results indicate that copper niobate with optimum activity is prepared after being calcinated at 800 ℃ for 5 h when n(Cu)/n(Nb) = 1:1.The scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results show that the prepared CuNb2O6 is near spherical with a crystal size of 103 nm.The extension of calcination time do not cause an increase of CuNb2O6 crystalline size.The optimum concentration of CuNb2O6 during the photocatalytic process is 6 g/L.