Nanocomposite materials can enhance the capabilities of water treatment processes such as photocatalysis. In this work, novel light-driven nanocatalysts were synthesized by using nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) to nanoenable graphene oxide (GO) substrates. GO is an emerging 2D nanomaterial with high conductivity and adsorption properties. Moreover, the electric properties of GO improve photocatalytic performance by promoting charge carrier separation. Results of the characterization of the nickel ferrite nanoenabled graphene oxide (NiFe2O4@GO) nanocomposites demonstrate that homogeneous and stable photocatalysts were produced. The as-synthesized nanocatalysts enabled complete decolorization of the colored water matrix in short irradiation times of 150 min using minimal catalyst loading at 0.5 g L-1. The selective hook and destroy mechanism reduced the competitive effect of co-existing ions in solution. Furthermore, the use of specific scavengers helped to elucidate the degradation mechanisms of organic dye methylene blue by NiFe2O4@GO nanocomposites.
Keywords: Advanced oxidation process; Graphene nanocomposite; Photocatalysis; UV irradiation; Wastewater treatment.