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Enhanced photocatalytic performance of CdFe2O4/Al2O3 nanocomposite for dye degradation

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Abstract

In the present work, CdFe2O4/Al2O3 magnetic nanocomposite photocatalyst is successfully synthesized by simple sol-gel auto-combustion method. The role of this sample is studied as a photocatalyst. The influence of Al2O3 concentration with CdFe2O4 on the photocatalytic property is also studied. We have considered three weight percentage of Al2O3, 5%, 10%, and 20% with CdFe2O4. All the samples are characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), UV-Visible, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy techniques. The 10% composite sample showed the lower particle size, higher surface area, enhanced porosity, higher saturation magnetization, and considerable band gap as compared to that of 5% and 20% CdFe2O4/Al2O3 as well as bare CdFe2O4 nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of the sample is evaluated towards the degradation of the xylenol orange (XO) dye under UV light. The degradation process of the dye is monitored spectrophotometrically. The performance in terms of removal efficiency is studied by varying the contact time, dye concentration and amount of catalyst. Among the three concentrations of Al2O3, the 10% weight concentration of Al2O3 with CdFe2O4 is found to be the optimal concentration and showed the higher degradation rate. After 30 min photocatalytic reaction, the degradation rate is 92.29% for 10% CdFe2O4/Al2O3 and for bare CdFe2O4, it is 85.79%. This work provides a new reference for designing Al2O3-based spinel ferrite nanocomposites and their role in wastewater management.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India, for the project EMR-II-03/1429/18.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, H.P.T. Arts and R.Y.K. Science College, Nashik, 422005, Maharashtra, India

    Ashwini S. Varpe & Mrinalini D. Deshpande

  2. Department of Chemistry, H.P.T. Arts and R.Y.K. Science College, Nashik, 422005, Maharashtra, India

    Dipak R. Tope & Ashok V. Borhade

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  1. Ashwini S. Varpe
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  2. Mrinalini D. Deshpande
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  3. Dipak R. Tope
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  4. Ashok V. Borhade
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Contributions

ASV conducted the experimental work and drafted the initial manuscript. MDD supervised the work equally. DRT and AVB equally contributed in catalytic experiments. All authors contributed to the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mrinalini D. Deshpande.

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Varpe, A.S., Deshpande, M.D., Tope, D.R. et al. Enhanced photocatalytic performance of CdFe2O4/Al2O3 nanocomposite for dye degradation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 52549–52560 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24834-4

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