Degradation of Methyl Blue Under Visible Light Irradiation Using Carbon Dot Synthesized from Sawdust

Student: Augustine Onyejiuwa (Project, 2025)
Department of Chemical Engineering
Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna

Abstract

Abstract This study focuses on the photocatalytic degradation of methyl blue (MB) dye under visible light irradiation using carbon dots (CDs) synthesized from sawdust, a renewable and eco-friendly carbon source. The CDs were prepared through a simple hydrothermal method and characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results confirmed that the CDs possess nanoscale spherical morphology, abundant oxygen-containing surface functional groups, and strong optical absorption in the visible region. The photocatalytic performance of the CDs was evaluated by monitoring the degradation of methyl blue under visible light. The sawdust-derived CDs exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, achieving up to 96% degradation efficiency within 90 minutes of irradiation. The high performance is attributed to efficient electron–hole separation and the generation of reactive oxygen species (•OH and •O₂⁻). This research demonstrates a sustainable approach for converting biomass waste into high-value nanomaterials with potential applications in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Keywords
degradation visible methyl under light irradiation carbon photocatalytic synthesized sawdust
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