Efficient Photodegradation of Congo Red and Phenol Red in Wastewater Using Nanosized Cu-Polyoxometalate: A Promising UV-Active Catalyst for Environmental Treatment

Bani-Atta, Suhair A.; Darwish, Ahmed Ali A.; Alatawi, Nada M.; Alkhathami, Nada D.; Al-Tweher, Jozaa N.; El-Zaidia, Eman F. M.

doi:10.3390/catal15100920

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Efficient Photodegradation of Congo Red and Phenol Red in Wastewater Using Nanosized Cu-Polyoxometalate: A Promising UV-Active Catalyst for Environmental Treatment

by

Suhair A. Bani-Atta

¹,

Ahmed Ali A. Darwish

^2,*,

Nada M. Alatawi

³,

Nada D. Alkhathami

³,

Jozaa N. Al-Tweher

³ and

Eman F. M. El-Zaidia

²

¹

Analytical Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia

²

Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia

³

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 920; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100920

Submission received: 4 August 2025 / Revised: 16 September 2025 / Accepted: 22 September 2025 / Published: 25 September 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heterogeneous Catalysis for Environmentally Compatible Reactions and Processes, 2nd Edition)

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Abstract

This research focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic performance of Cu-based polyoxometalate (Cu-POM) as an effective catalyst for the degradation of organic dyes, specifically Congo Red (CR) and Phenol Red (PR). The main goals are to synthesize Cu-POM using a controlled self-assembly technique, characterize its optical and structural characteristics using FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and estimate its photocatalytic activity when exposed to UV light. The outcomes confirm the successful formation of Cu-POM with well-defined nanostructures and a crystalline polyoxometalate framework. The determined optical bandgap of 3.65 eV indicates its strong UV-light responsiveness. The photocatalytic degradation experiments demonstrated high removal efficiencies of 58.1% for CR and 64.6% for PR under UV irradiation, corresponding kinetic rate constants of 0.00484 min⁻¹ and 0.00579 min⁻¹, respectively. The superior photocatalytic activity is attributed to the efficient charge carrier separation and high surface area of Cu-POM. These findings highlight the potential of Cu-POM as a promising heterogeneous photocatalyst for sustainable wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Keywords: polyoxometalate; photocatalysis; degradation; congo red; phenol red

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MDPI and ACS Style

Bani-Atta, S.A.; Darwish, A.A.A.; Alatawi, N.M.; Alkhathami, N.D.; Al-Tweher, J.N.; El-Zaidia, E.F.M. Efficient Photodegradation of Congo Red and Phenol Red in Wastewater Using Nanosized Cu-Polyoxometalate: A Promising UV-Active Catalyst for Environmental Treatment. Catalysts 2025, 15, 920. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100920

AMA Style

Bani-Atta SA, Darwish AAA, Alatawi NM, Alkhathami ND, Al-Tweher JN, El-Zaidia EFM. Efficient Photodegradation of Congo Red and Phenol Red in Wastewater Using Nanosized Cu-Polyoxometalate: A Promising UV-Active Catalyst for Environmental Treatment. Catalysts. 2025; 15(10):920. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100920

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bani-Atta, Suhair A., Ahmed Ali A. Darwish, Nada M. Alatawi, Nada D. Alkhathami, Jozaa N. Al-Tweher, and Eman F. M. El-Zaidia. 2025. "Efficient Photodegradation of Congo Red and Phenol Red in Wastewater Using Nanosized Cu-Polyoxometalate: A Promising UV-Active Catalyst for Environmental Treatment" Catalysts 15, no. 10: 920. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100920

APA Style

Bani-Atta, S. A., Darwish, A. A. A., Alatawi, N. M., Alkhathami, N. D., Al-Tweher, J. N., & El-Zaidia, E. F. M. (2025). Efficient Photodegradation of Congo Red and Phenol Red in Wastewater Using Nanosized Cu-Polyoxometalate: A Promising UV-Active Catalyst for Environmental Treatment. Catalysts, 15(10), 920. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100920

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Efficient Photodegradation of Congo Red and Phenol Red in Wastewater Using Nanosized Cu-Polyoxometalate: A Promising UV-Active Catalyst for Environmental Treatment

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