Design, synthesis and characterization of g-C3N4/GO/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite for efficient photocatalytic degradation of pollutants using sunlight
摘要
Methyl orange (MO), an azo dye broadly employed in textile industry, adversely affects water reservoirs and human health, prompting the need for efficient methods for its elimination. Photodegradation of organic pollutants is an auspicious, eco-friendly technology for wastewater treatment. Herein, an efficient and novel ternary composite comprising g-C3N4/Graphene oxide/CoFe2O4 (CGCo) was synthesized using simple in situ hydrothermal approach for degradation of MO dye. Various characterization tools, including XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM–EDX, and UV–Vis spectroscopic analyses were utilized to validate effective synthesis of the ternary CGCo composite. The influencing operational parameters, like pH, oxidant dose, photocatalyst dosage, irradiation time, and initial dye concentration (IDC), on photocatalytic degradation were comprehensively examined and elucidated. Novel ternary CGCo composite displays improved photocatalytic performance for MO dye degradation than binary g-C3N4/CoFe2O4 (CCo, 89%) and GO/CoFe2O4 (GCo, 91%) composites under sunlight. At optimum photocatalytic conditions of pH (5), photocatalyst amount (0.3 g/L), oxidant dosage (10 mM), and initial pollutant concentration (25 ppm), MO dye was successfully degraded (~ 98%) using CGCo within 60 min. No obvious loss of photoactivity was observed after 3rd subsequent recycling run. The enhanced photocatalytic performance was ascribed to synergistic impact among graphene oxide, g-C3N4, and CoFe2O4, which promotes efficient charge separation, light harvesting, and delays the life span of photoinduced carriers. This study presents an effective approach, offering insight into role of g-C3N4/GO/CoFe2O4 as a promising photocatalyst for degradation of contaminants in wastewater treatment.