Fe₃O₄/graphene oxide derived from natural iron sand for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine-B textile dye waste
摘要
This study explores the potential of Fe3O4/Graphene Oxide (GO) nanocomposites for enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine-B (RhB) textile dye waste. Fe3O4 was extracted from natural iron sand from Glagah Beach, Kulon Progo, Indonesia, and synthesized via a co-precipitation method. Characterization using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis revealed the nanocomposite comprises three key elements: Fe (28.07%), O (44.37%), and C (20.92%). X-ray diffraction confirmed the inverse spinel structure of Fe3O4, with a band gap of 2.92 eV, indicating its semiconductor properties. The Fe3O4/GO nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity, achieving 91.3% degradation of RhB under UV light after 270 min, outperforming pure Fe3O4. However, degradation efficiency decreased by an average of 12.23% over three cycles. The enhanced degradation performance is attributed to effective charge carrier separation and improved visible light absorption facilitated by GO. These results position Fe3O4/GO nanocomposites as efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly photocatalysts, offering promising solutions for textile wastewater treatment.