Preparation, characterization and application of nanosized copper ferrite photocatalysts for dye degradation under UV irradiation

Abstract

Nanosized copper ferrite-type materials (CuxFe3–xO4, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1) have been prepared by combination of co-precipitation and mechanochemical activation and/or thermal treatment. The crystalline structure and morphology of the obtained ferrite nanopowders have been characterized by different instrumental methods, such as Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Mössbauer and FT-IR spectroscopies, specific surface area and porosity measurements, thermal analyses (Differential Thermal Analysis and Thermogravimetric Analysis) and Temperature-Programmed Reduction. The average crystallite size of copper ferrites ranged between 7.8 and 14.7 nm and show a superparamagnetic and collective magnetic excitations nature. The photocatalytic decolorization of Malachite green oxalate under different UV illumination intervals was examined using these copper ferrites as photocatalysts. The results indicate that the prepared nanostructured copper ferrites showed enhanced photocatalytic activity and amount adsorbed Malachite Green dye. The co-precipitated nanosized copper ferrite powder with a low content of copper metal ions in a magnetite host structure (Cu0.25Fe2.75O4) showed an apparent pseudo-first-order rate constant 15.4 × 10−3 min−1 and an amount adsorbed Malachite Green as model organic dye pollutant per 1 g catalyst of 33.4 ppm/g after the dark period. The results confirm that the copper ferrites can be suitable for photocatalytic treatment of wastewaters containing organic dyes. The new aspect of presented investigations is to study the influence of different degree of incorporation of copper ions into the magnetite host structure and preparation methods on the photocatalytic properties of nanosized copper ferrite materials and obtaining of potential photocatalyst (Cu0.25Fe2.75O4) with higher photocatalytic activity (15.4 × 10−3 min−1) than that of the standard referent Degussa P25 (12 × 10−3 min−1) for degradation of organic dye Malachite green under UV irradiation.