Degradation of reactive blue dye under UV irradation using iron based nanocomposites

Abstract

Abstract The textile industry contributes significantly to environmental pollution through the discharge of non-biodegradable colored dye effluents, emphasizing the need for effective wastewater treatment methods. Traditional approaches, including physical and biological treatments, face limitations, necessitating exploration into advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Iron-based photocatalysts, particularly those synthesized through green methods, have shown promise in degrading organic pollutants. In this study, iron nanocomposites, including CSINCs, ASINCs, and ACINCs, are synthesized by mixing two different plant extract mixtures with an Iron precursor solution. XRD analysis confirms cubic structures for the prepared nanocomposites, with crystalline sizes of 14.21, 15.79, and 28.74 nm, respectively. UV–vis spectrophotometer shows characteristic absorption peaks in the 380–400 nm range. FESEM imaging reveals spherical particles, and EDX analysis detects typical signals of Fe, O, and C. FTIR spectra indicate various functional groups present in the nanocomposites. The study further focuses on optimizing the degradation of Reactive Blue 171 (RB 171) dye, considering factors such as pH, concentration of RB 171, and photocatalyst concentration. The results demonstrate that ACINCs, specifically at a concentration of 10 mg/100 mL in a mixture with Reactive Blue dye at a concentration of 50 ppm, exhibit enhanced degradation under UV irradiation. This detailed investigation contributes to the understanding of the structural and functional characteristics of Iron nanocomposites and their potential application in the efficient degradation of textile dyes, emphasizing the importance of optimizing key parameters for enhanced photocatalytic performance.