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Testing of Magnetic ZnO/MgFe2O4 Heterostructures for Photocatalytic Removal of Synthetic Dye Pollutants from Wastewater

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Abstract

Worldwide population growth and pollution have limited the availability of clean water. Therefore, it is imperative to develop rapid water purification techniques that can eliminate all primary water pollutants, such as organic compounds and synthetic dyes. Pollutant disposal using a photocatalytic technique is efficient and safe for the environment. In this context, the ZnO/MgFe2O4 heterostructure photocatalyst is produced via a sol–gel technique to degrade methylene blue (MB) as a benchmark dye. Synthesized samples are characterized by numerous analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, scanning tunneling electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, I-V characteristics curves, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Photocatalytic degradation efficiency is witnessed at 40.01%, 55.05%, and 71.02% for ZnO, MgFe2O4, and ZnO/MgFe2O4, respectively. Among all the samples, composite heterojunction demonstrates the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency. The obtained results reveal that the presence of magnetic ferrite in heterojunction promotes the absorption of radiation, reduces electron–hole recombination, and improves charge transfer. High stability over multiple cycles and easy removal character are the added benefits of the tested heterojunction photocatalyst.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support from the Deanship of Scientific Research, Najran University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for funding this work under the Research Groups funding program grant code number (NU/RG/SERC/12/9).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    Muhammad Shoaib, Muhammad Adnan Munir & Muhammad Yasin Naz

  2. Department of Physics, Faisalabad Campus, Riphah International University, Faisalabad, 44000, Pakistan

    Ghulam Abbas

  3. Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Najran University, Najran, 61441, Saudi Arabia

    Muhammad Irfan & Saifur Rahman

  4. Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Najran University, Najran, 61441, Saudi Arabia

    Abdulnour Ali Jazem Ghanim

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  1. Muhammad Shoaib
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  2. Muhammad Adnan Munir
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Shoaib, M., Munir, M.A., Naz, M.Y. et al. Testing of Magnetic ZnO/MgFe2O4 Heterostructures for Photocatalytic Removal of Synthetic Dye Pollutants from Wastewater. Water Air Soil Pollut 234, 422 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06467-6

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