Study of the catalytic characteristics of metal ions decorated carbon nanotubes for waste water processing under ionizing irradiation

Multiwall and singlewall carbon nanotubes were used as precursors for preparing metal ion-decorated nanotubes. The activated nanotubes catalyze metal deposition specifically onto their surfaces upon wetting the surface of nanotubes. K
⁺
, Cu
²⁺
, Mg
²⁺
, Ca
²⁺
and Fe
³⁺
decorated singlewall and multiwall carbon nanotubes, were screened for the catalytic activity in reactive violet dye waste water decomposition reaction under ionizing irradiation. It showed that K
⁺
, Mg
²⁺
, Ca
²⁺
decorated multiwall carbon nanotubes have higher catalytic activity than others under different condition, such as basic and acid condition, and different concentration. The catalytic active of decorated nanotubes was improved highly at very low dose.