Green synthesis of magnetic chitosan composite hydrogel (Fe3O4@CS photocatalyst) for the solar light driven catalytic degradation of organic contaminants

Abstract

Ecofriendly magnetic chitosan composite hydrogel (Fe3O4@CS photo-catalyst) was prepared by using an aqueous extract of Boerhevia procombens leaves for the solar light mediated catalytic degradation of lethal organic Congo red dye. The prepared composite hydrogel was structurally studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) which reveals the formation of the Fe3O4@CS photocatalyst. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation of the composite hydrogel signified high crystallinity of photocatalyst and crystallite structure of 53 nm for magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs). The surface investigation suggests multilayered porous photocatalyst owing to the presence of cavities offering more photoactive sites for the photodecomposition of dye molecules. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) scanning supports the fabrication of Fe3O4@CS photocatalyst due to the perseverance of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and iron. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) together with vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) certifies the preparation of thermally stable and magnetic composite hydrogel. The fabricated Fe3O4@CS photocatalyst possess low bandgap energy of 2.36 eV, supporting the excellent disintegration of dye molecules in the sunlight irradiations. The photocatalyst exhibited a maximum degradation efficacy of 99.1% for Congo red dye in the solar light irradiations with refined states of 70 min radiation time, dye concentration of 20 mg/L, pH 6, and 200 mg photocatalyst amount obeying the second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.9959). The Fe3O4@CS photocatalyst displayed a little decrease in dissociation efficiency of dye molecules after five repeated cycles owing to the coverage or rupturing of photoactive sites. Conclusively, the results support Fe3O4@ CS to be an economical and biocompatible magnetic catalyst for the catalytic decontamination of Congo red dye molecules and other organic contaminants in domestic and industrial wastewater effluents.