Synthesis and characterization of SnO₂ loaded on groundnut shell activated carbon and photocatalytic activity on MB dye under sunlight radiation

Tin oxide (SnO₂) nanoparticles were synthesized and loaded on groundnut shell activated carbon (SnO₂/GNSAC) using by a chemical precipitation method and its photocatalytic activity was evaluated by photodegradation of methylene blue under sunlight radiation. The synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, diffusion reflectance spectra show the optical properties and confirmation made by photoluminescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray and nitrogen adsorption–desorption technique. The various experimental parameters like amount of catalyst, initial pH and contact time for efficient dye degradation of methylene blue were concerned in this study. In the photodegradation of methylene blue, a significant increase in the reaction rate was observed with SnO₂/GNSAC under sunlight. This increase is due to the high migration efficiency of photoinduced electrons and the inhibition of charge–carrier recombination due to the electronic interaction between SnO₂ and GNSAC.