Development of hexagonal nanoscale nickel ferrite for the removal of organic pollutant via Photo-Fenton type catalytic oxidation process

Abstract

The nanoscale hexagonal nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) was successfully developed using hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) assisted hydrothermal route. The as-prepared samples were characterized by various techniques like X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared spectrophotometer, Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, and results reveal the successful formation of nickel ferrite with a crystallite size of 32.36 nm calculated using Debye-Scherrer equation. As prepared hexagonal nickel ferrite nanostructures material was used for the degradation of methyl orange via Photo-Fenton process which exhibited 99.78 % degradation ability for methyl orange with a short irradiation time of 20 min with strong reusability up to five cycles. This excellent degradation ability of nickel ferrite was related to the small size and porous nature of materials that can provide more feasibility for metal ions to interact with UV–vis light with a fast degradation rate. This study provides a new route for the development of nanoscale materials using hexamethylenetetramine as a precipitating and pore-forming agent.