Photocatalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol over eco-friendly NixCuxFe2O4 without an additional reducing agent in water

Abstract

Organic pollutants such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) pose serious environmental extortions due to their chemical stability for which efficient catalytic materials are indispensable in treating them. In this regard, the present work involves the synthesis of two different types of ferrites (NiFe2O4, and CuFe2O4), and a combination of NixCuxFe2O4 with various ratios that systemically work as efficient photocatalysts without any additional reducing agents is reported. The structural, and morphological properties of NiFe2O4, CuFe2O4, and NiCuFe2O4 were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and HRTEM techniques. Then, the catalytic role of individual ferrite catalysts was evaluated towards catalytic reduction of 4-NP under visible light. The progress dye reduction was examined via UV–vis spectrophotometry. The effect of various concentrations, and reduction time were investigated. The kinetic rate constants determined for NiFe2O4, CuFe2O4, and NixCuxFe2O4 revealed that Ni and Cu in bimetallic ferrites promoted the reduction reaction under visible light. The results demonstrated that the photo-reduction efficiency of the Ni0.7Cu0.3Fe2O4 catalyst over 4-NP (conc. 10 ppm) to 4-AP was determined as 82 % under 120 miniutes with good recyclability up to six cycles. The mechanism of photocatalytic reduction of ferrites without the use of a reducing agent was studied. Such facile and productive ferrite materials could be employed as efficient photocatalysts for the reduction of toxic organic contaminants in environmental treatment.