LAUSR

Abstract In this work, Mn3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using hydrothermal and precipitation methods. Furthermore, the composites of Mn3O4 with graphene oxide alone and also with graphene oxide and clinoptilolite zeolite simultaneously were constructed. The products were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy analysis (DRS). Their photocatalytic activities were investigated using the photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Orange (MO) aqueous solution under visible light irradiation of 9 W LED lamp. According to the results, Mn3O4 nanoparticles showed no activity in removal test under visible light. In natural pH medium (pH = 7), (Mn3O4/GO)H composite revealed the best efficiency of 95.25% in MO removal process. However, (Mn3O4/GO/Clin) composite exhibited the best photocatalytic proficiency of 99.23%, in the removal of the dye in acidic medium (pH = 2).