Abstract
Narrow band gap of ferrites makes it a good photocatalyst, and it plays very prominent role in the level of degradation of organic dyes by photocatalysis. In the current study, bismuth ferrite (BFO) nanoparticles were synthesized by auto-combustion technique. The synthesized BFO particles have the average crystallite size of 33 nm and band gap energy of 1.9 eV. As revealed by microscopic images, uniform, distinct, and hexahedral shaped BFO nanoparticles of 42.7 nm are formed. The BFO nanoparticles exhibited visible and solar light-mediated photocatalytic activity in degrading Acid Yellow-17. The optimum pH and catalyst loading were found to be pH 5 and 0.2 g/L respectively. Around complete degradation under solar and 95% degradation under visible light could be achieved within 135 min of irradiation. Around 85% and 83% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal could also be achieved under solar and visible light respectively. The degradation followed first-order kinetics in terms of COD removal. The BFO nanoparticles are promising as solar light active catalysts for wastewater treatment.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express sincere thanks to Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore, for providing the facility for TEM analysis.
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The research work is funded by National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, India.
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Conceptualization of the research (Vidya Shetty K, Shankramma K); design and development of methodology (Vidya Shetty K, Shankramma K); conducting experiments and original manuscript preparation (Shankramma K); formal analysis of the data (Vidya Shetty K, Shankramma K); review, revision, and editing the manuscript (Vidya Shetty K); supervision of the research work (Vidya Shetty K); and project administration (Vidya Shetty K).
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Kalikeri, S., Shetty Kodialbail, V. Auto-combustion synthesis of narrow band-gap bismuth ferrite nanoparticles for solar photocatalysis to remediate azo dye containing water. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 12144–12152 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10879-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10879-w