Detoxification of aflatoxin B 1 using nano-sized Sc-doped SrTi 0.7 Fe 0.3 O 3 under visible light

Abstract

Abstract Nano-sized undoped and Sc-doped SrTi 0.7 Fe 0.3 O 3 samples were prepared using the complex precursor route. The prepared photcatalysts were characterized using XRD, diffuse reflectance and XPS. The prepared samples have cubic perovskite-like phase structure. Sc doping leads to increasing both the cubic lattice parameter and unit cell volume and also decreasing the band gap values. The lowest band gap was detected for 10 mole% Sc doped SrTi 0.7 Fe 0.3 O 3 (1.58 eV). A matrix effect analysis was applied to correlate the photo detoxification of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) in the visible light to the irradiation time, initial levels of AFB 1 , amount of catalysts and pH. The average crystallite size of the samples is in the range of 13–21 nm. Sc doping played an important role in the photocatalytic degradation of AFB 1 by SrTi 0.7 Fe 0.3 O 3 in visible light. About 88.2% removal of aflatoxin B 1 was achieved by 10 mole% Sc doped SrTi 0.7 Fe 0.3 O 3 sample within 120 min in visible light, which is higher than that of undoped, 1 or 5 mole% Sc doped SrTi 0.7 Fe 0.3 O 3 . The intermediates formed in the detoxification of AFB 1 was proved using GC/MS.