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Visible light–driven ZnO/Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles for detoxification of diazinon: the photocatalytic optimization process with RSM-BBD model

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Abstract

Today, diazinon is one of the most widely used organophosphorus pesticides, whose widespread use can cause many ecological and biological risks. In this research, a magnetic ZnO/Fe3O4 nanoparticle was used to investigate the photocatalytic degradation of diazinon. Sol-gel synthesis was used to create the nanoparticle, which was then characterized using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, VSM, and XPS techniques. The design of photocatalytic degradation experiments was done using the response surface method and the Box-Behnken design model. The investigated parameters include pH, nanoparticle concentration, diazinon concentration, and irradiation time. The characterization of the ZnO/Fe3O4 nanoparticle showed well-formed crystalline phases and a cubic spinel structure. Additionally, the shape of the nanoparticle is almost uniform and spherical. The FT-IR spectrum also confirmed the presence of all functional groups related to ZnO and Fe3O4 in the ZnO/Fe3O4 nanoparticles structure. The synthesized nanocomposite has superparamagnetic properties and a very small coercive field, making it easily recyclable, according to a VSM analysis. XPS results also showed the presence of Fe (Fe 2p1/2 and Fe 2p3/2), Zn (Zn 2p1/2 and Zn 2p3/2), oxygen (O1s), and weak carbon (C1s) peaks in the ZnO/Fe3O4 structure. The results of the photocatalytic optimization experiments showed that the highest efficiency of diazinon toxin degradation is 99.3% under the conditions of pH 7, diazinon initial concentration of 10 mg/L, nanoparticle concentration of 1 g/L, and a contact time of 90 min. This result is very close to the BBD model’s predicted removal efficiency under optimal conditions (100%). As a result, the ZnO/Fe3O4 nanocomposite can produce active free radicals through UV radiation, and these radicals can successfully remove diazinon under actual conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran

    Sima Kalantar & Akram Bemani

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

    Mohammad Hossein Sayadi & Elham Chamanehpour

  3. Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Mohammad Hossein Sayadi

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  1. Sima Kalantar
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  2. Akram Bemani
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  3. Mohammad Hossein Sayadi
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  4. Elham Chamanehpour
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Contributions

The paper was conceptualized and supervised by Akram Bemani. The writing was supervised by Akram Bemani and Mohammad Hossein Sayadi. The first and revised draft was prepared by Sima Kalantar and Elham Chamanepour. The investigation, reviewing and editing, methodology, and software were supervised and prepared by Akram Bemani, Mohammad Hossein Sayadi, Elham Chamanepour, and Sima Kalantar.

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Correspondence to Akram Bemani.

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Highlights

• A heterogeneous photocatalyst, ZnO/Fe3O4, was synthesized as a highly active, easily separable, and recyclable catalyst for the oxidative degradation of diazinon toxin in an aqueous solution.

• A Box–Behnken design model was used to optimize experimental conditions.

• Under optimized conditions, the degradation of diazinon was obtained 99.3%.

• ZnO/Fe3O4 was an effective and performable integrated system into efficient degradation of toxic organics.

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Kalantar, ., Bemani, A., Sayadi, M.H. et al. Visible light–driven ZnO/Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles for detoxification of diazinon: the photocatalytic optimization process with RSM-BBD model. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 95634–95647 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29024-4

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