LaCrO3 nano photocatalyst: the effect of calcination temperature on its cellulose conversion activity under UV-ray irradiation

Rudy Situmeang, Matthew Tamba, Erwin Simarmata, Tria Yuliarni, Wasinton Simanjuntak, Zipora Sembiring and Simon Sembiring

Abstract

Nano-photocatalysis offers an environmentally friendly method, low cost process, and easy handling operation. In addition, converting cellulose as an abundant waste of agricultural side-product into glucose and alcohol sugar is interesting and challenging. LaCrO₃ nano photocatalyst was prepared using sol-gel and freeze-drying method. After the gelation and freeze-drying process, the precursors were subjected directly to the calcination treatment at 600, 700, and 800 °C, respectively. Then, the samples were subsequently characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy (DRS), Fourrier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results proved that LaCrO₃ crystalline phase is formed and its grain size is approximately 30 nm. DRS analysis also proved that band gap energy is affected by temperature calcination, and its value is around 2.9 eV. Its activity test said that the calcination temperature affected the conversion of cellulose. The cellulose conversion is more than 20% with the yield of alcohol sugar more than 600 ppm in 45 min exposure of the UV irradiation