Abstract

In this study, MoS₂ nanoparticles were synthesized and analyzed through powder X-ray dif-fraction, Raman, ultraviolet–visible, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. The surface morphologies of the as-synthesized MoS₂ nanoparticles were investigated through scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The sonocatalytic activity of the MoS₂ nanoparticles toward Orange II removal was evaluated by utilizing a Box–Behnken design for response surface methodology in the experimental design. The sonocatalyst dosage, Orange II dye concentration, and ultrasound treatment time were optimized to be 0.49 g/L, 5 mg/L, and 150 min, respectively. The maximum efficiency of Orange II degradation on MoS₂ nanoparticles was achieved, with a final average value of 82.93%. Further, the results of a kinetics study on sonocatalytic Orange II degradation demonstrated that the process fits well with a pseudo-first-order kinetic model.

Keywords: MoS2 nanoparticles;sonocatalyst;Orange II;Box–Behnken design;response surface methodology