Conversion and reducing agent effect on zero valent iron into Fe3O4 for photocatalytic degradation under UV light irradiation

S P Keerthana; S Gayathri; R Yuvakkumar; L Kungumadevi; G Ravi; Abdullah G Al-Sehemi; Dhayalan Velauthapillai

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.113959

Conversion and reducing agent effect on zero valent iron into Fe₃O₄ for photocatalytic degradation under UV light irradiation

Environ Res. 2022 Nov;214(Pt 4):113959. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113959. Epub 2022 Aug 20.

Authors

S P Keerthana¹, S Gayathri², R Yuvakkumar³, L Kungumadevi², G Ravi⁴, Abdullah G Al-Sehemi⁵, Dhayalan Velauthapillai⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
² Department of Physics, Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal, India.
³ Department of Physics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: yuvakkumarr@alagappauniversity.ac.in.
⁴ Department of Physics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India; Department of Physics, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140 413, Punjab, India.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, KingKhalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Faculty of Engineering and Science, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, 5063, Norway.

PMID: 35995219
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113959

Abstract

Conversion and reducing agent (NaBH₄) effect on zero valent iron into Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with diverse molar ratios of reducing agent was produced through chemical reduction technique. The structural, optical, vibrational analyses were executed via XRD, UV-Vis, Raman, and FT-IR analysis. The crystallite size obtained were 35 nm, 27 nm, and 18 nm for Fe:NaBH₄ (1:1), Fe:NaBH₄ (1:2) and Fe:NaBH₄ (1:3). The morphology of the Fe:NaBH₄ (1:1) was not in good orientation with higher dimensions. As explored in Fe:NaBH₄ (1:2) and (1:3) samples, there is a proper growth of nanoneedles and nanosheets formation. This was due to the addition of reducing agent which greatly helped in enhancement of morphology. The prepared photocatalysts were tested to reduce Malachite Green (MG) under UV illumination. The pure dye solution obtained 57% efficiency after irradiation. Fe:NaBH₄ (1:3) photocatalyst achieved 97% efficiency on reducing pollutants. The rate constant values calculated was 0.007, 0.013, 0.02 and 0.03 min^-1 for pure, Fe: NaBH₄ (1:1), Fe: NaBH₄ (1:2) and Fe: NaBH₄ (1:3) assisted MG samples. The as prepared photocatalyst is more potential one on removal of toxic pollutants from wastewater which is due to the better enhancement of nanoneedles and nanosheets oriented by the effect of reducing agent. The advantage of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for wastewater is that the removal of these nanoparticles can be ease with magnetic separation methods. On considering the advantage of removing of photocatalyst and efficiency, this prepared product is suitable one for wastewater remediation process in future days.

Keywords: Fe(3)O(4); Malachite green; Nanoneedles; Nanosheets; Reducing agent; Wastewater treatment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Catalysis
Iron* / chemistry
Light
Reducing Agents
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
Ultraviolet Rays
Wastewater / chemistry
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Reducing Agents
Waste Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Iron