Surfactants assisted SiO2-Cu@Fe2O3 nanofibers: Ultra efficient photocatalyst for photodegradation of organic compounds and transesterification of waste edible oil to biodiesel

Abstract

The researchers are trying to synthesize such materials which have desirable stability, high efficiency and cost effective. In the present work, SiO 2 -Cu@Fe 2 O 3 nanofibers were synthesized by a novel protocol in which tween-80 and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was used as a surfactant. The photodegradation of dyes and transesterification of waste edible oil to biodiesel had been investigated. Copper nanoparticles were relatively well dispersed over the surfaces of silica and iron oxide nanofibers with the diameter of 20 nm and Fe 2 O 3 and SiO 2 composite mesopores with a high specific surface area (116 m 2 /g). Photocatalytic degradation of Methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (Rhod B) dyes has been tested against As-synthesized SiO 2 -Cu@Fe 2 O 3 nanostructures. At optimum processing conditions SiO 2 -Cu@Fe 2 O 3 displayed a far higher effectiveness of reaction and dyes degradation than many others. A comparative kinetic study of the reduction of dyes (MB and Rhod B) in the presence and absence of nanocatalyst shows the efficiency of synthesized SiO 2 -Cu@Fe 2 O 3 . Furthermore, the reusability of the as-prepared composite was measured and there is no considerable catalytic activity loss even after 5 cycles. The efficiency of SiO 2 -Cu@Fe 2 O 3 was tested both in light and dark. The visible light efficiency of SiO 2 -Cu@Fe 2 O 3 nanofibers against the said dyes were several time higher than in dark. The degradation patterns at a temperature range of 30 °C were so well equipped with a 1st order kinetic framework and proposed a dyes reaction mechanism. The synthesized nanofibers were also applied as a catalyst against transesterification of waste edible oil to biodiesel. The results indicated that 98% biodiesel production was obtained in a 7 h reaction time, and 70 °C reaction temperature. On the basis of the above high efficiency further research is required on the said nanofibers to investigate their hidden applications. • Preparation of SiO 2 -Cu@Fe 2 O 3 nanofibers by new method. • Photocatalytic​ degradation of methylene blue and Rhodamine B. • Catalytic conversion of waste edible oil to biodiesel. • Investigated different factors effecting the catalytic activity.