Photodegradation of phenol and cresol in aqueous medium by using Zn/Al + Fe mixed oxides obtained from layered double hydroxides materials

ZnAlFe layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method at different MII/MIII ratio. The solids were calcined at 723 K obtaining the respective mixed oxides with high specific surface areas (138–70 m2/g) and semiconductor properties (band gap values of 2.54–2.04 eV). The photocatalytic activity of these materials was tested for the photodegradation of aqueous solutions containing phenol and p-cresol (40 ppm), in presence of a UV light source. A disappearance of 98% of phenol and a total photodegradation of p-cresol were obtained after 6 and 4 h, respectively.