Bagher Eftekhari-Sis

Hexagonal core–shell SiO2[–MOYI]Cl–]Ag nanoframeworks were synthesized via surface modification of hexagonal silica nanoparticles prepared from perlite (EP) as a cheap and abundant raw material. The prepared samples were well characterized by X-ray diffraction powder (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Brunauer– Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area analysis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The XRD patterns confirmed that Ag and AgCl crystalline phases were successfully loaded on the surface. The TEM images were also implied that the nanoparticles have hexagonal shape with the average size of 50–80 nm. Photocatalytic properties were evaluated by degradation of acid blue 92 (AB92), two semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) i.e., 4-methoxy-2nitrophenol (4Mx2Np) and 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (3M4Np), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. a) gram positive bacteria under visible light. The kinetics and mechanism of the photocatalytic pathways were also studied and the results were discussed. According to the obtained results, the photocatalyst was incredibly able to degradethe contaminants under visible light. Recycling experiments described the high capacity of the prepared sample for the repeated treatment of wastewaters.The TEM images of the treated bacterial cell walls after the reaction time were also used to clarify the antibacterial activity of the samples