Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye from Waste Water bymagnetic g-C۳N۴/CoFe۲O۴ Nanocomposite

A magnetic photocatalytic g-C۳N۴/CoFe۲O۴ nanocomposite was synthesized via a simple co-precipitationmethod for waste-water purification. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS) were employed to characterize the assynthesizedphotocatalytic nanocomposite. The results showed that CoFe۲O۴ (CF) nanoparticles with anaverage particle size of ۴۰ nm precipitated on the surface of g-C۳N۴ (g-CN) nanosheets and there has beena strong bonding between them. The photocatalytic performance of g-C۳N۴/CoFe۲O۴ nanocomposite wasevaluated by degradation of methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. Itwas found that the g-C۳N۴/CoFe۲O۴ nanocomposite has more efficiency in the degradation of MB thanusing individual g-CN or CF phases. The degradation of MB increased from ۵۸% in g-CN sample to ۶۴%in nanocomposite one. This enhancement could be attributed to the synergistic effect between CF and g-CN. In nanocomposite, sampleband gap energy of the photocatalyst decreases (۱.۶۷ eV) and charge carrierproduction and separation takes place more efficiently. Thus, adsorption and degradation of pollutants onthe surface of the photocatalyst occures at a higher rate. After the photocatalytic reaction, C۳N۴/CoFe۲O۴nanocomposite sample can be quickly separated from the water by an extra magnetic field due to its strongmagnetic nature.

Keywords:

Photocatalyst , g-C۳N۴ , CoFe۲O۴ , Nanocomposite , Dye degradation