Development of alginate@tin oxide–cobalt oxide nanocomposite based catalyst for the treatment of wastewater

Abstract

In this study, tin oxide‑cobalt oxide nanocatalyst was prepared by a simple method, which grew in spherical particles with an average diameter of 30 nm. Tin oxide–cobalt oxide was further wrapped in alginate polymer hydrogel (Alg@tin oxide–cobalt oxide), and both materials were utilized as nanocatalysts for the catalytic transformation of different pollutants. Tin oxide–cobalt oxide and Alg@tin oxide–cobalt oxide nanocatalysts were tested for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol, congo red, methyl orange, methylene blue (MB) and potassium ferricyanide in which sodium borohydride was used as a reducing agent. Tin oxide–cobalt oxide and Alg@tin oxide–cobalt oxide nanocatalysts synergistically reduced MB in shorter time (2.0 and 4.0 min) compared to other dyes. The reduction conditions were optimized by changing different parameters. The rate constants for MB reduction were calculated and found to be 1.5714 min−1 and 0.6033 min−1 using tin oxide–cobalt oxide and Alg@tin oxide–cobalt oxide nanocatalysts, respectively. Implementing Alg@tin oxide–cobalt oxide nanocatalyst toward MB reduction in real samples proved its efficacy in sea and well water samples. The catalyst could be easily recovered, recycled and revealed a minimal loss of nanoparticles, which offering a competition and replacement with reputable commercial catalysts.