Modified Composite Based on Magnetite and Polyvinyl Alcohol: Synthesis, Characterization, and Degradation Studies of the Methyl Orange Dye from Synthetic Wastewater
Cristina Modrogan,
Simona Cǎprǎrescu,
Annette Madelene Dǎncilǎ,
Oanamari Daniela Orbuleț,
Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu,
Violeta Purcar,
Valentin Radițoiu,
Radu Claudiu Fierascu
Affiliations
Cristina Modrogan
Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Ghe. Polizu Street No 1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Simona Cǎprǎrescu
Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry Department, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Ghe. Polizu Street No 1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Annette Madelene Dǎncilǎ
Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Ghe. Polizu Street No 1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Oanamari Daniela Orbuleț
Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Ghe. Polizu Street No 1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Ghe. Polizu Street No 1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Violeta Purcar
National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry—ICECHIM, Splaiul Independentei, No. 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Valentin Radițoiu
National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry—ICECHIM, Splaiul Independentei, No. 202, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Radu Claudiu Fierascu
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Ghe. Polizu Street No 1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
The goal of the present paper was to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the performance of the modified composite based on magnetite (Fe3O4) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The obtained composite was used to degrade Methyl Orange dye from synthetic wastewater by a laboratory photocatalytic reactor. Various parameters of the photodegradation process were tested: composite dosage, amount of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and pH. The composite was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The degradation experiments indicated that the complete dye decolorization depended on the amount of H2O2. In addition, the H2O2 could accelerate Methyl Orange degradation to more highly oxidized intermediates in the presence of UV light (99.35%). The results suggested that the obtained modified composite could be used to treat wastewater containing various types of dyes.
