Synthesis of Magnetically Separable Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub>-Ag with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance under Visible Light for Degradation of Metanil Yellow

Abstract

Synthesis of magnetic photocatalyst, Fe3O4/TiO2-Ag, with characterization and photoactivity examination have been investigated. The synthesis was initiated by preparation of Fe3O4 particles using coprecipitation method. The Fe3O4 particles were then coated with TiO2-Ag, weight ratios of concentrations Silver dopant were varied from 1 to 3, 5 and 7 wt%. The Fe3O4/TiO2-Ag was characterized by FTIR, XRD, TEM, SEM-EDX, DR UV-visible and VSM methods. The degradation of metanil yellow solution was performed under exposure to UV, visible light and dark condition at optimum condition. The Fe3O4 and anatase diffraction peaks were presence on the X-ray diffractogram. The Fe3O4/TiO2-Ag was responsive to visible light, according to DR UV-Vis spectra. The Fe3O4/TiO2-Ag band gap energy was 2.49, 2.30, 2.00, and 2.46 eV, respectively, with dopant concentrations of 1; 3; 5; and 7%. Metanil yellow solution can be photodegraded for 180 minutes at a pH of 2.3. The Fe3O4/TiO2-Ag has the highest ability to metanil yellow photodegradation with dopant concentration of 5% gave degradation yield of 82.18% and 72.53% under UV and visible irradiation, respectively. With K values of 0.52 g mg-1 min-1 under visible light and 0.5255 g mg-1 min-1 under UV light, the degradation kinetics of methanyl yellow dye followed Ho and McKay's kinetic model. The Fe3O4/TiO2-Ag material exhibited magnetic characteristics that could be applied under visible light and reused.