PH dependent enhanced synchronous photocatalytic removal of cationic and anionic dyes by CoFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

This work reports the application of non-functionalized cobalt ferrite (CF) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a fast dye removing agent. Herein, we have synthesized the CF MNPs by chemical co-precipitation method. The photocatalytic activity is demonstrated with examples of cationic and anionic dyes depending on different pH. The synthesized CF MNPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurement (BET) to confirm the structural, morphological, magnetic property and surface area. We have shown its high efficiency in removal of both types of ionic dyes with moderate first order reaction rate under different pH. Because of its magnetic property it is easy to separate from the reaction mixture by magnetic separation method after its use, which is an added advantage in case of recycling. From the application point of view, these MNPs may be useful in promising industrial usage purpose because of its high stability, fast dye removal efficiency and low-cost.