A B S T R AC T Nanoparticle TiO 2 and ZnO were prepared by facile method. The XRD patt ern study shows that there is no obvious diff erence in crystal composition of various shapes of TiO 2 and ZnO. The photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Red 15, commonly used as a textile dye, using synthesized titanium and zinc oxides was investigated. The eff ects of infl uential parameters such as initial pH, catalyst loading, initial dye concentration and addition of hydrogen peroxide were studied. The

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... egradation effi ciency was expressed by the removal of color and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The study reveals that: (1) Both catalysts, under corresponding optimal conditions, can be employed as an eff ective photocatalyst for the elimination of color and COD from dye wastewater. Also, ZnO is more effi cient catalyst than TiO 2 ; (2) Addition of proper amount of hydrogen peroxide improves both the decolorization and the degradation of the dye; (3) The photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Red 15, in the presence of both photocatalysts, obeyed pseudo-fi rst order kinetics. The biodegradability ratio BOD 5 /COD increases from original zero up to 0.52 and 0.6 within 90 minutes irradiation time using 1 and 0.75 g/L TiO 2 and ZnO, respectively.