Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants in Aqueous Solutions Using Noble Metal-Based Nanocomposites

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

2 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

3 Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS), Tehran 1411813389, Iran

Abstract

Magnetic noble metal nanoparticles have garnered considerable attention in recent decades for removing organic pollutants, owing to their exceptional photocatalytic activity, reusability, chemical stability, and environmental compatibility. This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of dyes, serving as representative organic pollutants, using Fe₂O₃/Bi/GO nanocomposite under UV light. The Fe₂O₃/Bi/GO nanocomposite was synthesized via a hydrothermal method, and its structure, morphology, and other properties were characterized using XRD, FE-SEM, and VSM techniques. The characterization results confirmed the successful synthesis of the Fe₂O₃/Bi/GO nanocomposite, with particle sizes ranging from 30 to 60 nm and notable magnetic properties. Key factors influencing dye removal, including pH, catalyst concentration, and initial dye concentration, were systematically evaluated. The findings revealed that the Fe₂O₃/Bi/GO nanocomposite exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity for removing dyes from textile wastewater. The optimal pH for degrading Yellow 3G was 3, while for Methylene Blue, it was 11. The ideal catalyst dosage for both dyes was determined to be 0.3 g/L. Under these conditions, 98.23% of 30 mg/L Yellow 3G and 96.87% of 20 mg/L Methylene Blue were effectively photodegraded. Furthermore, the synthesized nanocomposite demonstrated strong recyclability, retaining its performance over five consecutive cycles. With its high efficiency and stability, this photocatalyst offers a practical, sustainable, and eco-friendly solution for removing organic pollutants from water sources.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abbood, N.S., Ali, N.S., Khader, E.H., Majdi, H. S., Albayati, T.M. & Saady, N.M.C., 2023. Photocatalytic degradation of cefotaxime pharmaceutical compounds onto a modified nanocatalyst. Research on Chemical Intermediates, 49, 43-56.
Ahmadpour, N., Nowrouzi, M., Madadi Avargani, V., Sayadi, M.H. & Zendehboudi, S., 2024. Design and optimization of TiO2-based photocatalysts for efficient removal of pharmaceutical pollutants in water: Recent developments and challenges. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 57, 104597.
Akbari, M.Z., Xu, Y., Liang, C., LU, Z., Shen, S. & Peng, L., 2023. Synthesis of ZnO@VC for enhancement of synergic photocatalytic degradation of SMX: Toxicity assessment, kinetics and transformation pathway determination. Chemical Engineering and Processing-Process Intensification, 193, 109544.
Ali, N., Said, A., Ali, F., Raziq, F., Ali, Z., Bilal, M., Reinert, L., Begum, T. & Iqbal, H.M., 2020. Photocatalytic degradation of congo red dye from aqueous environment using cobalt ferrite nanostructures: development, characterization, and photocatalytic performance. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 231, 1-16.
Campos-Delgado, J. & Mendoza, M.E., 2023. Ternary graphene oxide and titania nanoparticles-based nanocomposites for dye photocatalytic degradation: A Review. Materials, 17, 135.
Chang, S.-K., Abbasi, Z., Khushbakht, F., Ullah, I., Rehman, F.U. & Hafeez, M., 2024. Rapid pH-dependent photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by CdS nanorods synthesized through hydrothermal process. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 17, 105422.
Chauhan, A. & Chauhan, P., 2014. Powder XRD technique and its applications in science and technology. Journal Anal Bioanal Tech, 5, 1-5.
Daoush, W.M., 2017. Co-precipitation and magnetic properties of magnetite nanoparticles for potential biomedical applications. Journal Nanomed Research, 5, 00118.
Devi, S., Chahal, S., Singh, S., Kumar, P., Kumar, S., Kumar, A. & Kumar, V., 2023. Magnetic Fe2O3/CNT nanocomposites: characterization and photocatalytic application towards the degradation of Rose Bengal dye. Ceramics International, 49, 20071-20079.
Foroughipour, M. & Nezamzadeh-Ejhieh, A., 2023. CaTiO3/g-C3N4 heterojunction-based composite photocatalyst: part I: experimental design, kinetics, and scavenging agents’ effects in photocatalytic degradation of gemifloxacin. Chemosphere, 334, 139019.
Guo, R.-T., Wang, J., Bi, Z.-X., Chen, X., Hu, X. & Pan, W.-G., 2022. Recent advances and perspectives of g–C3N4–based materials for photocatalytic dyes degradation. Chemosphere, 295, 133834.
Hajiani, M., Sayadi, M.H., Mozafarjalali, M. & Ahmadpour, N., 2023. Green synthesis of recyclable, cost-effective, chemically stable, and environmentally friendly CuS@ Fe3O4 nanoparticles for the photocatalytic degradation of dye. Journal of Cluster Science, 34, 1939-1951.
Hajipour, F., Asad, S., Amoozegar, M.A., Javidparvar, A.A., Tang, J., Zhong, H. & Khajeh, K., 2021. Developing a fluorescent hybrid nanobiosensor based on quantum dots and azoreductase enzyme for methyl red monitoring. Iranian Biomedical Journal, 25, 8.
Huang-Mu, L., Devanesan, S., Farhat, K., Kim, W. & Sivarasan, G., 2023. Improving the efficiency of metal ions doped Fe2O3 nanoparticles: photocatalyst for removal of organic dye from aqueous media. Chemosphere, 337, 139229.
Kalaycıoğlu, Z., Özuğur Uysal, B., Pekcan, O.N. & Erim, F.B., 2023. Efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution with cerium oxide nanoparticles and graphene oxide-doped polyacrylamide. ACS Omega, 8, 13004-13015.
Khorasanipour, N., Iranmanesh, P., Saeednia, S. & Yazdi, S.T., 2023. Photocatalytic degradation of Naphthol Green in aqueous solution through the reusable ZnS/MoS2/Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposite. Surfaces and Interfaces, 36, 102613.
Khosravi Mohammad Soltan, F., Hajiani, M. & Haji, A., 2021. Nylon-6/poly (propylene imine) dendrimer hybrid nanofibers: An effective adsorbent for the removal of anionic dyes. The Journal of The Textile Institute, 112, 444-454.
Kumari, H., Sonia, Suman, Ranga, R., Chahal, S., Devi, S., Sharma, S., Kumar, S., Kumar, P. & Kumar, S., 2023. A review on photocatalysis used for wastewater treatment: dye degradation. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 234, 349.
Lanjwani, M.F., Khuhawar, M.Y., Khuhawar, T.M.J., Lanjwani, A.H., Memon, S.Q., Soomro, W.A. & Rind, I.K., 2023. Photocatalytic degradation of eriochrome black T dye by ZnO nanoparticles using multivariate factorial, kinetics and isotherm models. Journal of Cluster Science, 34, 1121-1132.
Lanjwani, M.F., Tuzen, M., Khuhawar, M.Y. & Saleh, T.A., 2024. Trends in photocatalytic degradation of organic dye pollutants using nanoparticles: a review. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 159, 111613.
Li, Z., Undeman, E., Papa, E. & Mclachlan, M.S., 2018. High-throughput evaluation of organic contaminant removal efficiency in a wastewater treatment plant using direct injection UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 20, 561-571.
Lotfi, S., Ouardi, M.E., Ahsaine, H.A. & Assani, A., 2024. Recent progress on the synthesis, morphology and photocatalytic dye degradation of BiVO4 photocatalysts: A review. Catalysis Reviews, 66, 214-258.
Mozafarjalali, M., Hajiani, M. & Haji, A., 2020. Efficiency of Aptenia cordifolia mucilage in removal of anion dyes from aqueous solution. International Journal of New Chemistry, 7, 111-124.
Munir, A., Jamal, S., Gondal, H. Y., Iqbal, J., Hussain, A., Aziz, A., Nisar, M., Zubair, M., Momin, A. & Haider, A., 2024. Bismuth sensitized iron oxide on exfoliated graphene oxide (Bi–Fe2O3@ GO) for oxygen evaluation reaction. Discover Nano, 19, 193.
Naffeti, M., Zaibi, M. A., Nefzi, C., García-Arias, A.V., Chtourou, R. & Postigo, P.A., 2023. Highly efficient photodegradation of methylene blue by a composite photocatalyst of bismuth nanoparticles on silicon nanowires. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 30, 103133.
Nejati, K. & Zabihi, R., 2012. Preparation and magnetic properties of nano size nickel
ferrite particles using hydrothermal method. Chemistry Central Journal, 6, 1-6.
Poorsajadi, F., Sayadi, M. H., Hajiani, M. & Rezaei, M.R., 2021. Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange dye using bismuth oxide nanoparticles under visible radiation. International Journal of New Chemistry, 8, 229-239.
Rafiq, A., Ikram, M., Ali, S., Niaz, F., Khan, M., Khan, Q. & Maqbool, M., 2021. Photocatalytic degradation of dyes using semiconductor photocatalysts to clean industrial water pollution. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 97, 111-128.
Roozbahani, P.A., Behnejad, H. & Hamzehloo, M., 2024. Synthesis, analysis, and application of zinc oxide and bismuth-based nanocomposites (ZnO/BaBi2O6) as a photocatalyst for organic dyes degradation. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 168, 112821.
Sayadi, M.H., Ghollasimood, S., Ahmadpour, N. & Homaeigohar, S., 2022. Biosynthesis of the ZnO/SnO2 nanoparticles and characterization of their photocatalytic potential for removal of organic water pollutants. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology A: chemistry, 425, 113662.
Sayadi, R. & Heshmatpour, F., 2024. CaAl1. 5Fe0. 5O4/6% Ni-ZnO nanocomposites: Synthesis, characterization and effective photocatalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 169, 113089.
Shabil Sha, M., Anwar, H., Musthafa, F.N., Al-Lohedan, H., Alfarwati, S., Rajabathar, J. R., Khalid Alahmad, J., Cabibihan, J.-J., Karnan, M. & Kumar Sadasivuni, K., 2024. Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes using reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Scientific Reports, 14, 3608.
Shah, R.K., 2023. Efficient photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange dye using facilely synthesized α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 16, 104444.
Shaikh, A.A., Patil, M.R., Jagdale, B.S. & Adole, V. A., 2023. Synthesis and characterization of Ag doped ZnO nanomaterial as an effective photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of Eriochrome Black T dye and antimicrobial agent. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 151, 110570.
Singh, N., Singh, M.K., Raghuvansi, J., Yadav, R.K. & Azim, Z., 2024. Green synthesis of nano iron oxide using Emblica officinalis L. fruit extract and its impact on growth, chlorophyll content, and metabolic activity of Solanum lycopersicum L. Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology, 12, 173-181.
Singh, P., Hasija, A., Thakur, C., Chopra, D. & Siddiqui, K.A., 2023. Exploring the pH reliant high photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes using H-bonded Ni (II) coordination network. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1276, 134784.
Sun, H.-B., Ai, Y., Li, D., Tang, Z., Shao, Z. & Liang, Q., 2017. Bismuth iron oxide nanocomposite supported on graphene oxides as the high efficient, stable and reusable catalysts for the reduction of nitroarenes under continuous flow conditions. Chemical Engineering Journal, 314, 328-335.
Tichapondwa, S.M., Newman, J. & Kubheka, O., 2020. Effect of TiO2 phase on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 118, 102900.
Tuama, A.N., Alzubaidi, L.H., Jameel, M.H., Abass, K.H., Bin Mayzan, M.Z.H. & Salman, Z. N., 2024. Impact of electron–hole recombination mechanism on the photocatalytic performance of ZnO in water treatment: A review. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, 1-15.
Verma, S., Rao, B.T., Singh, R. & Kaul, R., 2021. Photocatalytic degradation kinetics of cationic and anionic dyes using Au–ZnO nanorods: Role of pH for selective and simultaneous degradation of binary dye mixtures. Ceramics International, 47, 34751-34764.
Wang, Q., Zhao, Y., Zhang, Z., Liao, S., Deng, Y., Wang, X., Ye, Q. & Wang, K., 2023. Hydrothermal preparation of Sn3O4/TiO2 nanotube arrays as effective photocatalysts for boosting photocatalytic dye degradation and hydrogen production. Ceramics International, 49, 5977-5985.
Xu, Z., Zada, N., Habib, F., Ullah, H., Hussain, K., Ullah, N., Bibi, M., Bibi, M., Ghani, H. & Khan, S., 2023. Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of malachite green dye using silver–manganese oxide nanoparticles. Molecules, 28, 6241.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics