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10.3390/reactions6040064
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Article

Photocatalytic and Photo-Fenton-like Degradation of Methylene Blue Using Green-Synthesized Phosphate-Doped ZnO Under Visible LED Light

by
Soukaina Nehhal
1,
Majda Ben Ali
1,
Younes Abrouki
1,
Khalid Ofqir
1,
Yassine Elkahoui
1,
Najoua Labjar
2,
Hamid Nasrellah
3 and
Souad El Hajjaji
1,*
1
Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment (LS3MN2E), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat 10050, Morocco
2
Laboratory of Spectroscopy, Molecular Modeling, Materials, Nanomaterials, Water and Environment (LS3MN2E), ENSAM, Mohammed V University, Rabat 10050, Morocco
3
Higher School of Education and Training, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida 24000, Morocco
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Reactions 2025, 6(4), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/reactions6040064
Submission received: 29 August 2025 / Revised: 18 November 2025 / Accepted: 24 November 2025 / Published: 28 November 2025
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Abstract

Water pollution caused by synthetic dyes is a major environmental concern due to their stability, toxicity, and resistance to conventional wastewater treatments. This study presents a sustainable approach for synthesizing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using artichoke biomass (waste) as a green precursor and enhancing their visible light photocatalytic activity through phosphorus doping. ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a simple green route and doped with 3–6% phosphorus using NH4H2PO4. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the resulting P-ZnO were characterized by XRD, SEM/EDX, TEM, FTIR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. (6 wt%) Phosphorus doping effectively reduced the band gap from 3.06 eV to 2.95 eV, extended light absorption into the visible range, and improved electron–hole separation, resulting in enhanced photocatalytic performance. The P-ZnO nanoparticles were evaluated for methylene blue (MB) degradation under visible light in a photo-Fenton-like process, with H2O2 as an oxidant. The degradation efficiency reached 87.05% with 6% P-ZnO and further increased to 92.35% upon addition of H2O2. Durability and reusability tests demonstrated that the 6% P-ZnO catalyst maintained its activity and structural integrity over four consecutive cycles, indicating negligible loss of efficiency and excellent resistance to surface poisoning. The photocatalytic activity was strongly impacted by the quantity of catalyst, solution pH, and initial dye levels, with optimal performance at 0.3 g/L catalyst loading, pH 3, and lower MB concentrations.
Keywords: phosphate-doped ZnO; green synthesis; photocatalysis; photo-Fenton-like process; methylene blue degradation; visible light activity; nanoparticles phosphate-doped ZnO; green synthesis; photocatalysis; photo-Fenton-like process; methylene blue degradation; visible light activity; nanoparticles

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MDPI and ACS Style

Nehhal, S.; Ben Ali, M.; Abrouki, Y.; Ofqir, K.; Elkahoui, Y.; Labjar, N.; Nasrellah, H.; El Hajjaji, S. Photocatalytic and Photo-Fenton-like Degradation of Methylene Blue Using Green-Synthesized Phosphate-Doped ZnO Under Visible LED Light. Reactions 2025, 6, 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/reactions6040064

AMA Style

Nehhal S, Ben Ali M, Abrouki Y, Ofqir K, Elkahoui Y, Labjar N, Nasrellah H, El Hajjaji S. Photocatalytic and Photo-Fenton-like Degradation of Methylene Blue Using Green-Synthesized Phosphate-Doped ZnO Under Visible LED Light. Reactions. 2025; 6(4):64. https://doi.org/10.3390/reactions6040064

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nehhal, Soukaina, Majda Ben Ali, Younes Abrouki, Khalid Ofqir, Yassine Elkahoui, Najoua Labjar, Hamid Nasrellah, and Souad El Hajjaji. 2025. "Photocatalytic and Photo-Fenton-like Degradation of Methylene Blue Using Green-Synthesized Phosphate-Doped ZnO Under Visible LED Light" Reactions 6, no. 4: 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/reactions6040064

APA Style

Nehhal, S., Ben Ali, M., Abrouki, Y., Ofqir, K., Elkahoui, Y., Labjar, N., Nasrellah, H., & El Hajjaji, S. (2025). Photocatalytic and Photo-Fenton-like Degradation of Methylene Blue Using Green-Synthesized Phosphate-Doped ZnO Under Visible LED Light. Reactions, 6(4), 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/reactions6040064

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