CMCFO-Cr0.1 Nanoferrites: Sol-gel Synthesis, Structural, and Magnetic Studies: Applications for Photodegradation of Congo Red Dye

Authors

• Ahmed Selmi ¹
• Hakimeh Teymourinia ^{2, 3, 4}
• Armin Zarei ⁴
• Mohamed Timoumi ⁵
• Ali Ramazani * ^{2, 4}

1. Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials, Faculty of Sciences of Monastir, University of Monastir, 5019 Monastir, Tunisia
2. Department of Biotechnology, Research Institute of Modern Biological Techniques (RIMBT), University of Zanjan, Zanjan 45371-38791, Iran
3. Trita Nanomedicine Research Center (TNRC), Zanjan Health Technology Park, Postal code 45156-13191, Zanjan, Iran
4. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, 45371-38791 Zanjan, Iran
5. Laboratoire des Matériaux, Organisation et Propriétés, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Tunisia

Abstract

One of the foremost inescapable impediments that industrial sectors face is to remove organic pollutants, which affected nature and threatened the existence of species per se. Nanoscale magnetic ferrites are considerable materials for removing the majority of organic dyes due to their unique properties and high potential photocatalytic activity. Their photocatalytic performance in semiconductor nanocrystals has also received many enthusiasts over the last couple of years.  Changing nanoferrites’ architectural building blocks and increasing their bandgap energy may improve their photocatalytic peculiarities.  In the present investigation, we have studied nanoscale magnetic ferrites with Co_0.4Mg_0.4Cu_0.2Fe_1.9Cr_0.1O₄, (CMCFO-Cr_x, x= 0.1) formula. CMCFO-Cr_x has synthesized via sol- gel approach. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized  by XRD, SEM, UV-vis analysis, and magnetic measurement, revealing the cubic spinel structure with space group Fd-3m (N° 277), average size between 20 and 60 nm, higher bandgap energy and saturation magnetization (446 emu/g) in the presence of transition metals. The results demonstrated in CMCFO-Cr_x (x=0.1) compound, the Curie temperature decreases to 446 K by the substitution of Fe³⁺ by Cr³⁺ ions. The synthesized powder nanoferrites efficiently degraded the Congo Red (CR) dye (84 %) under UV irradiation, for which the most probable degradation pathway is proposed. The recyclability test exhibited the nanoscale magnetic ferrites catalysts are sensibly efficient, stable, and facile recoverable by an external magnet. Thus, the CMCFO-Cr_x compounds can be an applicable catalyst in wastewater treatment.

Highlights

• CMCFO-Cr₁ Nanoferrites synthesized through simple and facile Sol-gel technique.
• Synthetic Nanoferrites were characterized by XRD.
• Magnetic peculiarities of the Nanoferrites were investigated.
• The prepared Nanoferrites were applied for photodegradation of Congo Red Dye.
• The effects of various factors such as Effect of light, Influence of catalyst dose, and Influence of irradiation time onphotocatalytic activities of these Nanoferrites were comprehensively investigated.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Congo Red (CR) dye.
• Photocatalytic Degradation
• Nanoferrites
• Characterization
• Magnetic Measurement