Mugumo, RachelTichapondwa, Shepherd MasimbaChirwa, Evans M.N.2023-05-102023-05-102022Mugumo R., Tichapondwa S.M., Chirwa E.M.N., 2022, Effects of Initial pH and CuS/ZnS Loading in Rhodamine B Photodegradation Under Visible Light Irradiation, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 94, 1027-1032. DOI:10.3303/CET2294171.2283-9216 (online)10.3303/CET2294171http://hdl.handle.net/2263/90622Copper sulphide doped zinc sulphide (CuS/ZnS) microporous aggregate nanocomposites were synthesised through one-step solid phase thermal decomposition method. This work focused on the effect of initial solution pH and catalyst loading on the degradation of rhodamine B dye using a CuS/ZnS photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Rhodamine B is a dye widely applied in the textile industry during the colouring process; however, its minute traces in water antagonistically affect the environment and all life forms. The physical and optical properties of the synthesised catalyst were characterised using techniques namely, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer-Emmett- Teller (BET). Optimum rhodamine B dye removal measured 97 % efficiency at 10 gL-1 loading after 2.5 h and complete mineralisation (100 % efficiency) at a pH of 1 after 4 h under visible irradiation. This study reports a promising CuS/ZnS heterogeneous photocatalyst in rhodamine B removal from wastewater.en© 2022, AIDIC Servizi S.r.l.Copper sulphide doped zinc sulphide (CuS/ZnS)Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)X-ray diffraction (XRD)Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET)Article