Eco-friendly Co-Mg-La nanoferrites for an efficient MB removal for wastewater treatment applications

Abstract

Improving effective and thrifty photocatalysts was deemed an outstanding approach for pollution handling. Here, a novel magnetic Co0.5Mg0.5LaxFe2-xO4 nanoparticle photocatalysts were synthesized via a combustion approach for the harmful methylene blue (MB) dye degradation. These samples were labeled as Co0.5Mg0.5Fe2O4 (CMLF0), Co0.5Mg0.5La0.03Fe1.97O4 (CMLF1), Co0.5Mg0.5La0.06Fe1.94O4 (CMLF2), Co0.5Mg0.5La0.09Fe1.91O4 (CMLF3), Co0.5Mg0.5La0.12Fe1.88O4 (CMLF4), and Co0.5Mg0.5La0.15Fe1.85O4 (CMLF5). A sequence of characterizations, including XRD, STEM, and UV–Vis-DRS, was exploited to examine the structure, morphology, constituent elements, and optical features of the CMLF ferrite nanoparticles. Despite the substitution process, an amazing decrement result for the lattice parameter (8.3748 to 8.3610 Å) and crystallite size (21.87 to 13.95 nm) is a large La cation at the expense of a smaller Fe one. The band-gap behavior of the CMLF nanoferrites is unique; it increases from 1.528 eV at the CMLF0 to 1.547 eV at the CMLF3 and decreases to 1.526 eV at the CMLF4 and 1.520 eV at the CMLF5. Two justifications accounted for this behavior. The nanoferrite CMLF5 has the highest photodegradation efficiency, 96.09%, after 60 min. Three hypotheses were introduced to explain this result. After five cycles, the degradation efficiency of the nanoferrite CMLF5 maintained its high performance with 95.09%, 94.87%, 94.76%, 93.59%, and 93.44%, respectively. These outcomes validate the outstanding photocatalytic efficiency, recyclability, and stability of the CMLF5 photocatalyst in its task to degrade the harmful MB dye, making it acceptable for wastewater treatment applications.