High activity of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles for photodegradation of crystal violet dye solution in the presence of sunlight

Abstract

Using the co-precipitation oxidation method and metal salt precursors, pure MFe2O4 (M = Co, Zn, Cu and Ni) photocatalysts were prepared co-precipitation method. The several properties of photocatalysts were studied. In sunlight and at neutral pH, all photocatalysts degraded crystal violet and performance ranking was NiFe2O4 < CoFe2O4 < CuFe2O4 < ZnFe2O4. Among these photocatalysts, ZnFe2O4 showed the highest photocatalytic degradation performance due to the smallest particle sizes, which were widely distributed. More channels were obtained due to the small pore volume providing a high number of active sites with optical band gap values of 1.69–2.55 eV. The photocatalytic degradation was an effect of the ratio of Zn/Fe, photocatalyst loadings, and calcination temperature. Calcination time and reaction duration were studied. The photocatalytic degradation reaction was almost completed within 24 h using Zn:Fe (1:2). The reaction followed the first-order rate constant. Photocatalysts were stable for seven times recycles.

Keywords

• MFe2O4
• photocatalytic degradation
• crystal violet
• sunlight radiation
• ZnFe2O4
• calcination temperature