Facile preparation of Fe2O3 catalyst and assessment of its photodegradation performance for industrial effluent purification

Abstract

This study focuses on synthesizing nano-scaled Fe2O3 particles using Araucaria columnaris (Cook's pine) leaf extract under atmosphere circumstances. These extracts serve as both a reductant and a stabilizer. Fe2O3 nanoparticle synthesis was confirmed through a comprehensive characterization process using many analytical techniques. The analysis of XRD patterns indicated that the examined samples consisted of nanoparticles of γ-Fe2O3, exhibiting a cubic crystal structure with a high degree of crystallization. Furthermore, the calculated crystallite size was resolute to be 24.5 nm. The scanning electron microscopy pictures revealed that the created samples exhibited a combination of spherical and polyhedral morphologies. The investigation of optical characteristics, such as light absorption and bandgap width, was conducted using UV–visible spectroscopy, employing a bandgap energy value of 3.78 eV. The study aimed to assess the removal effectiveness of Eosin yellow, Malachite green, Reactive black, and Rhodamine 6G dyes using Fe2O3 nanoparticles synthesized as a photocatalyst which exhibited remarkable photocatalytic efficacy in the breakdown of dyes when exposed to sunlight, and the reaction period of 90 min resulted in a maximum degradation rate of 97.4 %. Considering the promising results, utilizing Fe2O3 nanoparticles as a photocatalyst for degrading dyes in wastewater is feasible. Additionally, Araucaria columnaris leaf extract can be an environmentally friendly and economically viable method for synthesizing Fe2O3 nanoparticles.

Keywords

• Fe2O3 nanoparticles
• Araucaria columnaris leaves
• Cationic dyes
• Anionic dyes
• Photocatalytic activity