Dye Degradation Efficiency Research Articles

Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Pure and Bi-doped ZnS Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic Application

In the present research, a simple solvothermal microwave irradiation (SMI) method has been adopted for the preparation and synthesis of pure and Bi doped ZnS nanoparticles using zinc acetate, bismuth acetate, thiourea and ethylene glycol were utilized as precursors. As-synthesized pure and Bi doped ZnS nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). From the XRD and EDAX studies, crystallite size, lattice parameter and analysis of the elemental compositions are calculated and analyzed respectively. The UV-vis spectra revealed that the optical band gap energy of pure and Bi doped ZnS nanoparticles was calculated. The FESEM shows that the average particle size spherical and agglomerated of as-synthesized pure and Bi doped ZnS nanoparticles sizes were decreased. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of pure and Bi doped ZnS nanoparticles was studied with methylene blue dye in an aqueous solution under UV light irradiation; the 5.0 mol % of Bi doped ZnS nanoparticles dye degradation efficiency of the sample was calculated as 75% in 120 minutes.

Ab initio study of iron-doped zinc oxide for efficient dye degradation

First principle calculations were performed on iron doped zinc oxide (Fe-ZO) to reduce its bandgap to optimize its visible light absorption. The doping of iron in the ZO is done via supercells of Zn1-xFexO. The doped systems are analyzed using generalized gradient approximation plane wave pseudopotential on density functional theory, or local density approximation and LDA + U with PBE. The computational analysis reveals that the bandgap reduced with increasing dopant concentration. Furthermore, a robust absorption is observed toward the visible region of the spectrum. This enhances its ability as a photochemical material to increase degradation rates of industrial grade dyes.

Eco-friendly synthesis of nano ferrites for effective dye degradation and enhanced antimicrobial protection

This study investigates the synthesis of cobalt and nickel ferrite NPs using Araucaria heterophylla resin as a bio- template and nitrate salts of cobalt, nickel, and iron as precursors.The resulting spinel systems exhibit efficient degradation of organic dyes, including methylene blue and rhodamine-B, and demonstrate excellent reusability. The NPs antibacterial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella paratyphi, was also evaluated. Comprehensive characterization of the nanomaterials was performed using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, and VSM techniques. Magnetic measurements revealed the ferromagnetic nature of cobalt ferrites and the superparamagnetic nature of nickel ferrites, with reduced saturation magnetization and coercivity compared to bulk materials due to the quantum size effect. The nano-formulated ferrites exhibited superior antibacterial activity, highlighting their potential for water treatment applications. This study underscores the importance of removing dye contaminants from wastewater before discharge into aquatic ecosystems.

Sustainable and cost-effective metastable white cast iron powder for the degradation of textile dyes

The textile industry is one of the main consumers of dyes. The treatment of wastewater containing dyes is a major challenge worldwide for a sustainable and environmental friendly goods production. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective method for removing the dyes from wastewater. In this study, an economical and efficient white cast iron powder was reported to degrade reactive red 195A azo dye in an aqueous solution. The white cast iron powder was obtained by ball-milling a rapidly solidified cast iron ribbon, exhibiting unique metastable properties and a large surface area. These metastable phases are particularly effective in providing electrons for the dye degradation of NN double bonds, thereby improving the catalytic process, and enhancing the overall bond degradation efficiency. The influence of different parameters such as temperature, dye concentration, and reusability of metallic iron powder on the degradation efficiency was investigated. The experimental analysis revealed rapid and efficient dye degradation that was achieved within 15 min using 0.1 g of white cast iron powder. The study also demonstrated the effectiveness of the degradation rate improved significantly with an increase in temperature. Even after seven recycling experiments, the Fe82C15Si3 powders maintained high degradation efficiency toward the reactive red 195A solutions. This research will contribute to developing a new, highly efficient, and low-cost method for treating organic dye wastewater.

Prepared copper oxide nanoparticle colloidal solution by different laser ablation energy in liquid for enhanced organic dye degradation efficiency

Prepared copper oxide nanoparticle colloidal solution by different laser ablation energy in liquid for enhanced organic dye degradation efficiency

Fabrication of temperature-regulated sorbitol/mannitol-doped copper oxides derived from a Cu complex and their photocatalytic properties

In this study, a series of composites containing copper oxide (CuxO) particles doped with sorbitol/mannitol, namely Cu/CuxO@C (x = 1 or 2), was successfully derived from a novel copper complex ([Cu(IPZ)2Cl2] (Cu-Complex), where IPZ = 4-Iodopyrazole) by pyrolysis method and exploiting the stability and modulation of the coordination sites of sorbitol/mannitol, which exhibited excellent photocatalytic properties. The results showed that Cu/CuxO@C possessed high efficiency in degrading rhodamine B (RhB), gentian violet (GV), methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR) dyes under UV irradiation, and the degradation effect was gradually enhanced with the increase of calcination temperature. The structural and chemical states of the materials were characterised in detail. Furthermore, the effects of experimental factors such as catalyst dose, solution pH, and inorganic anions on dye degradation efficiency were investigated. The photocatalytic mechanism study demonstrated that the primary oxygen-active substance was superoxide radical (·O2-). The electron transport hypothesis explains the effective separation of electrons and holes within a substance. The Cu/CuxO@C composite was regarded as a potential photocatalyst for dye wastewater treatment due to its high photocatalytic efficiency, reusability, and universality, offering a novel solution to environmental and energy issues.

Captivating 2H-MoS2 nanoflowers for efficient NH3 detection and photocatalytic dye degradation

This research unveils the gas sensing and photocatalytic potential of 2H-MoS2 nanoflowers, offering a promising solution for ammonia sensing and wastewater remediation. The 2H phase of MoS2 nanoflowers is synthesized via a simple one-step hydrothermal method using ammonium heptamolybdate and thiourea. The elemental and morphological study confirms the formation of the 2H phase of MoS2 nanoflowers with an average sheet thickness of 14 nm. The XRD and HR-TEM analysis findings are in good accordance with the interlayer spacing of MoS2, calculated to be 0.64 nm. The 2H-MoS2 nanomaterial based chemiresistive sensor is tested for six different targets (NH3, C2H5OH, C3H6O, C3H7OH, HCHO, and C6H5CH3) and shows good selectivity towards ammonia (NH3) with the highest response of 81 %. The response-recovery time, repeatability, concentration, and humidity-based analysis are conducted for the analysis of the sensor. The fabricated 2H-MoS2 based sensor shows a response time of 8.5 s and a recovery time of 4.3 s. Furthermore, three model water contaminated dyes, MB, MO, and RB, are chosen for the photocatalytic experiment under visible light irradiation. The reusability, relative degradation, and pseudo-first-order analysis are used to evaluate the photocatalytic dye degradation properties of 2H-MoS2 nanoflowers. The reaction rate constant of 2H-MoS2 nanomaterials for MB, MO, and RB dyes is calculated to be (0.05010) min−1, (0.03458) min−1, and (0.02516) min−1, respectively. The maximum degradation efficiency of 2H-MoS2 nanoflowers towards MB, MO, and RB dye is 95 %, 86 %, and 76 %, respectively, under visible light irradiation. These findings suggest that the hydrothermally synthesized 2H-MoS2 nanoflowers have multifunctional applications such as effective NH3 sensors as well as photocatalysts for organic dye degradation, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable gas sensing and wastewater treatment technologies.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Green 19 dye using earthworms like T-ZnO-CuO nano-composite material as a S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst

Due to increasing organic dye pollution in the water environment, green and efficient photocatalyst are urgently needed to solve this problem. This study hypothesizes that green-synthesized nanocomposites, using plant leaf extracts, will significantly enhance the efficiency of organic dye degradation without the environmental drawbacks associated with traditional methods. Herein, enhanced degradation of Reactive Green 19 (RG 19) dye using earthworm like T-ZnO-CuO (TZC) nano-composite was reported. T-ZnO (TZ) and TZC nano-composite were synthesized using leaves extract of Thevetia peruviana plant. In the synthesis process, Thevetia peruviana leaves extract acts as a capping, stabilising and reducing agent, and additionally create a unique surface morphology of TZC nano-composite. The establishment of TZ and TZC nano-composite samples were investigated using FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM with EDX, HR-TEM and UV–VIS DRS spectroscopy. Furthermore, band gap energy of TZ and TZC nano-composites were calculated using Tauc’s plot. The band gap energy of TZC2 nano-composite was determined to be 2.80 eV. The nano-composite photocatalyst (TZC) was utilised in the degradation of RG 19 dye with 96.89 % efficiency in 150 min at 20 mg/L dye concentration, pH=7.5, and 0.6 g/L catalyst dose. In order to investigate the tentative photocatalytic mechanism, scavenging study, recyclability experiment, and stability were also investigated. The findings show that O2− and OH radical species have higher degree of involvement in the degradation process. The kinetics of the degradation of RG 19 dye follows pseudo-first-order kinetics.

Enabling highly efficient navy-blue dye degradation over the LaFeO3/B-g-C3N4/WO3 double z-scheme heterostructure

Chemical reactivity, optical and electronic features of conventional photocatalysts can be improved by chemical modification and nanocomposites fabrication techniques. Herein, a double Z-scheme LaFeO3/B-g-C3N4/WO3 (LFO/B-CN/WO) heterostructure nanocomposite has been successfully fabricated via a hydrothermal approach. XRD, FT-IR, SEM/EDS, TEM, TGA/DSC, and UV–visible spectroscopy confirmed crystallographic planes, phase purity, and heterojunction between LFO, WO and B-CN. From UV visible absorption spectroscopy, it was confirmed that optical band gap energy of CN is remarkably reduced after boron doping. The LFO/B-CN/WO photocatalyst revealed 96 % degradation performance for Navy Blue (NB) dye after visible light irradiation for 130 min under neutral pH conditions. The data were analyzed using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetics models to evaluate the dye degradation kinetics. Compared to the CN, B-CN, LFO-CN and WO-CN photocatalysts, the performance of LFO/B-CN/WO was much significant. Improved light absorption capability, effective spatial separation and prolonged charge-carrying capacity of the double Z-scheme system resulted in enhanced photocatalytic performance. This study offers new insights into the design and synthesis of highly efficient Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for environmental decontamination and clean energy purposes.

MoS2@MIL-53 (Ni) nanocomposite for water splitting and water remediation through real time effluent treatment

A novel molybdenum disulfide@ materials institute of Lavoisier (MoS2@MIL-53 (Ni)) hetero-structure material has been designed to act as a hydrogen/oxygen generator and as a water remediation agent. Two-dimensional layered MoS2@MIL-53 (Ni) nanocomposites were prepared through the hydrothermal method. Flower and layered morphology were observed for MoS2, and MIL-53 (Ni), respectively in the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images. The MoS2@MIL-53 (Ni) nanocomposite demonstrated a high dye degradation efficiency of ∼98 % and ∼96 % for Rhodamine B (RhB) and bodactive blue (BAB) within 80 minutes of time duration, respectively. In the case of untreated textile industrial effluent (TIE), the nanocomposite achieved an efficiency of around 86 % over a period of 9 hours. The ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra of RhB, BAB, and TIE displayed peaks at ∼565 nm, 665 nm, and 530 nm, respectively. Additionally, the nanocomposite exhibited excellent stability over five cycles when tested against RhB. During hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), MoS2@MIL-53 (Ni) nanocomposite showed a Tafel slope of 105 mV/decade and overpotential of −0.073 V vs. RHE. Similarly, oxygen evolution reaction (OER) studies exhibited a reduced over potential at 0.49 V vs. RHE @ 10 mA/cm2 and the Tafel slope was calculated to be 42 mV/decade. Further, the chronoamperometry analysis of MoS2@MIL-53 (Ni) confirmed that the sample exhibited relatively good stability with respect to both HER and OER analysis for 24 hours. This is indicative of MoS2@MIL-53 (Ni)’s structural stability and its strong electrocatalytic activity.

Efficient photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet dye using time-dependent ZnO nano spindle

Photocatalysis, utilizing metal–semiconductor oxides, has emerged as a promising technique for the oxidation of organic molecules due to its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly nature. This study presents the synthesis and application of time-dependent ZnO nano spindles for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet dye. ZnO nanostructures, known for their high photocatalytic activity, were synthesized using a simple and low-cost coprecipitation method, with the spindle morphology being fine-tuned by varying reaction times. The resulting nano spindles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV–vis spectroscopy to confirm their structural, morphological, and optical properties. XRD analysis revealed that the ZnO samples possess a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with a space group of P63mc. SEM analysis confirmed the formation of spindle-like morphologies, with the synthesized samples measuring just a few nanometers in size. The surface area and porosity of the ZnO samples have been observed by using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The obtained surface area of all ZnO samples is in the range of 15 to 30 m2g−1. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated under UV light irradiation, demonstrating that the degradation efficiency of CV dye significantly depends on the exposure duration and the morphological attributes of the ZnO nano spindles. The degradation kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model, with the optimized ZnO nano spindles achieving up to 99 % degradation efficiency within 150 min. This study highlights the potential of time-dependent morphological control in ZnO nanostructures to enhance photocatalytic processes, presenting a viable solution for the treatment of dye-laden wastewater.

Cobalt-Doped ZnO Nanocomposits for Efficient Dye Degradation: Charge Transfer.

Doping enhances the optical properties of high-band gap zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), essential for their photocatalytic activity. We used the combustion approach to synthesize cobalt-doped ZnO heterostructure (CDZO). By creating a mid-edge level, it was possible to tune the indirect band gap of the ZnO NPs from 3.1 eV to 1.8 eV. The red shift and reduction in the intensity of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra resulted from hindrances in electron-hole recombination and sp-d exchange interactions. These improved optical properties expanded the absorption of solar light and enhanced charge transfer. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) image and elemental mapping analysis confirmed the CDZO's porous nature and the dopant's uniform distribution. The porosity, nanoscale size (25-55 nm), and crystallinity of the CDZO were further verified by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron image analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the CDZO exhibited much greater efficiency (k=0.131 min-1) than that of ZnO NPs (k=0.017 min-1). Therefore, doped heterostructures show great promise for industrial-scale environmental remediation applications.

Biodegradation and Detoxification of Some Dyes by Crude Lignin Peroxidase Complex Produced by Escherichia coli Accession No: LR0250096.1 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Accession No: CP031449.2

Synthetic and untreated dyes discharged in wastewater effluents are a threat to an ecosystem. This study investigated dye degradation and detoxification efficiency of crude lignin peroxidase separately obtained from the cultures of Escherichia coli (LR0250096.1) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CP031449.2). The ability of the crude lignin peroxidase to degrade Malachite Green (MG), Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR), Congo Red (CR), and Azure B (AZ) was evaluated at different operating conditions (enzyme, dye, and hydrogen peroxide concentrations; pH; temperature; and contact time). The ability of the degraded dyes to support the growth of bacteria was also investigated. The observed optimum operating conditions for lignin peroxidase extracts of the Escherichia coli on AZ were 20 mg/mL enzyme concentration, 50 mg/L dye, pH 7.0, temperature 50 °C, and 1.5 mM hydrogen peroxide within 20–50 min of incubation time and on MG were 20 mg/mL, 50 mg/L, 9.0, 30 °C, 0.1 mM, and 20 min, respectively. The enzyme extract from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on AZ demonstrated optimum operation conditions of 20 mg/mL, 50 mg/L, pH 9.0, 40 °C, 1.5 mM, and 50 min, respectively and on MG, they were 20 mg/mL, 50 mg/L, 6.0, 30 °C, 1.0 mM, and 20 min, respectively). The prepared enzyme showed an appreciable degradative effect on CR and RBBR compared with commercial lignin peroxidase. The degraded dyes were able to support the growth of two Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus), and two Gram-negative (Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli) bacteria, indicating the efficiency and the potential use of the enzyme complexes in the clean-up of industrial dyes’ waste.

Sol-gel synthesis of Tb-doped lithium-nickel ferrite anchored onto g-C3N4 sheets for efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes

Due to the advancement of industrialization, water pollution has become an alarming global issue. Many organic dyes, such as crystal violet and rhodamine B, present in industrial wastewater are causing severe health problems. Both of these dyes are carcinogenic. For their degradation, ferrites are synthesized in this research. Ferrites have high absorbing potential in visible regions and fast movement of charge carrier species. Therefore, the ferrites are potentially used in photocatalysis to purify contaminated water. Graphitic carbon nitride shows enhanced separation of charges, which lowers the rate of recombination of charge carrier species. Lithium nickel ferrite, lithium nickel ferrite doped with terbium, and its composite with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) are synthesized by sol-gel and ultra-sonication methods, respectively. The prepared samples are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Mott-Schottky analysis. The bandgap of LiNiFe2O4 and LiNiTbFe2O4 was 2.35 eV, and 1.87 eV, respectively. LiNiTbFe2O4@g-C3N4 degraded 86 % crystal violet and 83 % rhodamine B in 120 min. The LiNiTbFe2O4@g-C3N4 composite showed the maximum degradation and can be potentially used in wastewater treatment.

Self-Assembled Nanostructure of Ionic Sn(IV)porphyrin Complex Based on Multivalent Interactions for Photocatalytic Degradation of Water Contaminants.

[Sn(H2PO4)2(TPyHP)](H2PO4)4∙6H2O (2), an ionic tin porphyrin complex, was synthesized from the reaction of [Sn(OH)2TPyP] (1) with a dilute aqueous solution of a polyprotic acid (H3PO4). Complex 2 was fully characterized using various spectroscopic methods, such as X-ray single-crystal crystallography, 1H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, emission spectroscopy, EIS mass spectrometry, PXRD, and TGA analysis. The crystal structure of 2 reveals that the intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the peripheral pyridinium groups and the axially coordinated dihydrogen phosphate ligands are the main driving force for the supramolecular assembly. Simultaneously, the overall association of these chains in 2 leads to an open framework with porous channels. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of methyl orange dye and tetracycline antibiotic by 2 was 83% within 75 min (rate constant = 0.023 min-1) and 75% within 60 min (rate constant = 0.018 min-1), respectively. The self-assembly of 2 resulted in a nanostructure with a huge surface area, elevated thermodynamic stability, interesting surface morphology, and excellent catalytic photodegradation performance for water pollutants, making these porphyrin-based photocatalytic systems promising for wastewater treatment.

Enhanced photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of nickel-doped barium M-type hexaferrites synthesized via citrate sol-gel method

Industrial activities release waste into aquatic sources, which is hazardous because of the pathogenic and cytotoxic behaviour of the contaminants present in the effluent. To address this issue, the citrate sol-gel auto-combustion method synthesized nickel-substituted barium M-type hexaferrites BaNixFe12−xO19 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2) nanoparticles. The nanoparticles show the single-phase hexaferrite structure having a crystallite size of 52.47 to 49.30 nm with the space group P63/mmc. Magnetic study of nanoparticles indicates that increased nickel ions give rise to saturation magnetization, whereas coercivity decreases. The band gap values of the pure and Ni-doped barium hexaferrites determined by Tauc plots have been noticed to range from 1.42 eV to 1.26 eV. The photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles for methyl orange (MO) dye has been investigated. The nanoparticles have shown a dye degradation efficiency of 84.5 % within 100 min. The antimicrobial properties of the synthesized nanoparticles have also been studied. The effectiveness of synthesized nanoparticles against two types of bacteria, gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli, as well as against two pathogenic fungi, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, has been investigated. The antibacterial effect has been demonstrated by all samples at all concentrations, with MIC values ranging from 1 to 4 mg/ml. Therefore, this study investigates the potential applications of nickel-doped barium M-type hexaferrites nanoparticles in real-world biological settings, suggesting their promising role in fighting against bacterial and fungal infections.

Synthesis of NiFe₂O₄ Magnetic Using Artocarpus altilis Leave Extract for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye and Antibacterial Applications

The green synthesis method is an economical and eco-friendly approach to synthesizing materials. This study effectively synthesized magnetic NiFe2O4 by Artocarpus altilis extract leave for the photocatalytic degradation of Methylene blue dye and exhibited antibacterial properties. The phytochemical compounds found in plants act as agents for reducing and stabilizing NiFe2O4. The synthesized NiFe2O4 was examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The variables in degradation include solution pH, dye concentration, catalyst dose, and irradiation time. The synthesized NiFe2O4 has a 12.4 nm crystallite size, a saturation magnetization (Ms) of 44.56 emu/g, and a band gap of 1.68 eV. The degradation efficiency of methylene blue dye was 98.2% under the following conditions: a solution pH of 10, a concentration of 10 mg/L, a dose of 0.1 g/L, and an irradiation time of 90 min. The degradation mechanism of Methylene blue dye may be accurately described by pseudo-first-order kinetics, with a kapp value of 0.0443 min-1. NiFe2O4 has high stability; after five degradation cycles, the degradation efficiency decreased by 4.45%. Additionally, NiFe2O4 demonstrates significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria.

Elucidating the photocatalytic mechanism of biomass-derived carbon dots nanocomposite for efficient degradation of MB and CR dyes: Insights into protein binding applications

This study introduces an environmentally sustainable method for synthesizing a nanocomposite using carbon quantum dots derived from green tea waste and zinc oxide. The single-step hydrothermal process not only addresses waste management but also yields a versatile nanocomposite with diverse applications. Rigorous characterization reveals its morphology, crystallinity, phase identification, structural behavior, optical properties, and chemical composition. Incorporating carbon quantum dots into the zinc oxide matrix reduces the band gap to 1.87 eV, enhancing charge separation and light-harvesting. This modification significantly boosts photocatalytic activity, achieving degradation efficiencies of 95.16 % for methylene blue (MB) and 93.21 % for congo red (CR) under visible light. The effects of pH, contact time, and photocatalyst concentration on dye degradation were explored. The nanocomposite, exhibiting both adsorption and photocatalytic performance, is poised for broad applications. Fluorescence quenching studies with lysozyme protein provide insights into potential applications across diverse fields, highlighting its environmentally friendly and multifunctional attributes.

Effective removal of textile dye via synergy of adsorption and photocatalysis over ZnS nanoparticles: Synthesis, modeling, and mechanism

In this work, we prepared sulfur-zinc nanoparticles (ZnS-TGA) functionalized with thioglycolic acid by a hydrothermal method and tested their photodegradation ability by solar irradiation. ZnS-TGA were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), UV–Vis spectrophotometer and photoluminescence spectroscopy. In the characterization of these nanoparticles, thioglycolic acid proved to be a strong capping ligand, with a specific surface area of 36.82 m2/g and an average size of 7.15 nm. To test the photocatalytic degradability of the product, methylene blue (MB) was used as a model pollutant. Various operational variables were investigated, including pH, amount of nanoparticles, dye concentration, contact time and temperature. The equilibrium adsorption tests, and the statistical physical calculations allowed the analysis of the energetic and steric variables of the adsorption of MB dye molecules on the surface of these nanoparticles. The equilibrium data were well fitted with Langmuir-Freundlich (L-F) and the adsorption kinetics with pseudo-first order. The maximum adsorption capacity of the MB dye removal process was 30.92 mg g−1 at pH 7 and 298 K, and this process was spontaneous and exothermic. The dye molecules and the surface of the nanoparticles exhibited physical interactions with adsorption energies of 23.31–25.92 kJ/mol. The photocatalytic activity of these nanoparticles resulted in a dye degradation efficiency of 91.1 % in 180 min. The photocatalytic efficiency remained almost unchanged after five consecutive degradation cycles, resulting in a methylene blue degradation of 85 %. According to these results, these environmentally friendly nanoparticles have the potential to purify industrial and urban liquids contaminated with harmful organic compounds such as dye molecules.

Artificial Neural Network-driven Optimization of Fe3O4 Nanoparticles/PVDF Macrospheres in Fenton-like System for Methylene Blue Degradation

Efficient degradation of industrial dyes remains a critical challenge in environmental engineering. This study introduces a novel Fe3O4 nanoparticles/PVDF macrospheres in a Fenton-like system, optimized using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB). A feedforward backpropagation neural network model to optimize and predict the performance of this advanced oxidation process under various operational conditions. The model was trained, validated, and tested with robust datasets, demonstrating high predictive accuracy and generalization capability. The Mean Square Error (MSE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) during testing were 0.0200 and 0.1414, respectively, indicating precise predictions. The coefficient of determination (R²) and correlation coefficient (R) were exceptionally high at 0.9744 and 0.9871, affirming the model's ability to capture the underlying dynamics of the degradation process effectively. The ANN-driven approach not only enhanced the efficiency of the MB degradation process but also provided significant insights into the scalability and applicability of the Fe3O4/PVDF system for practical water treatment solutions. This study underscores the potential of integrating advanced machine learning techniques with chemical engineering processes to achieve sustainable and efficient environmental management solutions, particularly for the treatment of recalcitrant wastewater contaminants.