Degradation of methylene blue using Zn2SnO4 catalysts prepared with pore-forming agents

A simple and versatile route for preparation of zinc stannate (Zn₂SnO₄) is proposed to obtain a material with a highly porous structure and greater surface area, in order to improve the photocatalytic properties compared with the conventional hydrothermal method. Zn₂SnO₄ catalysts were synthesized using a modified hydrothermal method in the presence of a different carbon-based templates, such as chitin, chitosan and carbon black, on the hydrothermal reaction medium, and subsequent calcination process. The produced catalysts were applied for an organic pollutant degradation, and the results showed that the Z-Chitin was able to degrade 96% of the pollutant in 25 min. The catalyst was stable and efficient until the fifth cycle of reuse. From the route of synthesis applied in this work, Zn₂SnO₄powders with intrinsic properties were obtained, such as higher porosity and photocatalytic activity.