Photocatalytic Efficiency of Mg-Al Doped Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles for Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye

The present study aims to determine the photocatalytic degradation efficiency on organic Methylene Blue (MB) dye by using Mg۰.۵Co۰.۵Al۰.۵Fe۱.۵O۴ spinel ferrite nanoparticles as a photocatalyst. All metal nitrates and sodium hydroxide were used as raw chemicals in the co-precipitation method for the synthesis of Mg۰.۵Co۰.۵AlxFe۲-xO۴ (x = ۰.۰, ۰.۱, ۰.۳, ۰.۵, ۰.۷, ۰.۹ mole %) spinel ferrites nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) mapping, Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR), PL photoluminescence spectra, UV–Visible spectroscopy and N۲ absorption-desorption isotherm method. XRD confirms the spinel cubic structure of spinel ferrite nanoparticles. Interplanar distance (d) and crystalline size (D) are calculated by using Bragg’s equation and Scherrer’s relationship respectively. SEM and EDS confirmed the morphological and elemental analysis of spinel ferrites. UV spectrum of the synthesized photocatalyst was studied and compared the energy band gap between the undoped, Mg-doped, and Mg-Al-doped cobalt spinel ferrites. PL photoluminescence spectra were analyzed to investigate the transfer, relocation, and recombination process of charge carriers. The surface area of the synthesized photocatalysts was in the range of ۲۶.۳۸-۳۲.۴۷ m۲/g. The photocatalysis of Mg-Al doped cobalt spinel ferrite nanoparticles were carried out for the degradation of MB dye under visible light irradiation. The amount of photocatalyst (spinel ferrite) used, duration under irradiation, pH level, starting dye concentration and H۲O۲ concentration were all factors in the photocatalytic degradation of MB dye. The maximum percentage degradation (%) of MB dye was analyzed and calculated at pH ۹. The MB dye (۲۰ ppm) was maximum degraded by ۲ g/L of spinel ferrite nanoparticles in ۱۲۰ min. of visible light irradiation.

Keywords:

Methylene blue dye , Spinel ferrite , Co-precipitation method , nanoparticles , Photocatalysis