Novel perovskite nanocatalyst (BiFeO3) for the photodegradation of rhodamine B/tartrazine and swift reduction of nitro compounds

Abstract

Design and synthesis of visible light respondent photocatalyst with high separation efficiency is of great importance due to its application in practical point of view. In this presentation, novel perovskite-structured BiFeO3 nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by simple, cost-effective and eco-friendly technique. The BiFeO3 nanoparticles were prepared by using different chelating agents (sucrose, citric acid, tartaric acid and urea) and under different range of calcination temperature (150–850 °C). Different characterization techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, VSM, BET, TEM and UV–Vis spectroscopy have been used for its structure evaluation. Further, by using this catalyst, a green approach has been developed for the removal of harmful organic compounds from the industrial waste. The catalytic activity was assessed by the catalytic degradation of industrial waste dyes such as rhodamine B and tartrazine (first time by perovskite-structured material) in aqueous media under sunlight irradiation and reduction of various nitro compounds to corresponding amines (in s) by using NaBH4 in green solvent water at room temperature. Effect of all types of BiFeO3 nanoparticles on catalytic degradation and reduction was investigated. BiFeO3 nanoparticles prepared by sucrose as chelating agent and calcinated at 650° were selected as a better catalyst on the basis of its performance in degradation and reduction experiment. Thus, the present approach provides a promising way to prepare noble catalyst for extensive applications in degradation/reduction of organic pollutants. The examination of degraded products of dye has been carried out by using FT-IR; mass spectroscopy and UV–Vis spectroscopy and confirmation of reduction of nitrocompounds with UV–Vis spectroscopy.