Facile synthesis of ZnFe2O4/bentonite composites and their utilization for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye
摘要
Dye pollution poses a number of threats to the environment and human health; thus, removal of dyes from water is required. Bentonite is an abundant and inexpensive natural clay mineral with a high specific surface area. With a high amount of surface active site and cationic exchangeability,this material can supply an excellent platform for enhancing charge carrier separation and stability of bare photocatalysts. Here, a new strategy of incorporating ZnFe2O4 with bentonite (5%, 10%, and 15% by wt.%) by a solution combustion method was implemented to enhance the efficiency of rhodamine B dye degradation. The morphology, crystallinity, structure, and surface area of the prepared ZnFe2O4/bentonite composites were analyzed. The findings showed that increasing the bentonite ratio led to increased band gaps and decreased maximum saturation magnetization of ZnFe2O4/bentonite. The resulting ZnFe2O4/bentonite (10%) obtained a surface area of 26.2 m2/g. In the presence of 0.1 M H2O2 and dosage of 1 g/L, the highest rhodamine B degradation rate was 99.73% for 210 min under visible light. The study suggested the importance of bentonite in enhancing photocatalytic activity of ZnFe2O4, hence, contributing valuable insights to address industrial water contamination challenges.