In this paper, ZnFe O , a visible light active photocatalyst, was comodified by graphene oxide (GO) and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) to form ZnFe O -Ag/rGO nanocomposite (NC) by facile one-pot hydrothermal method. Reduction of GO and formation of ZnFe O and Ag nanoparticles occurred simultaneously during hydrothermal reaction. The photocatalytic activity of the NC was investigated under visible light, for the degradation of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), a nondye compound, which also is an emerging pollutant with endocrine-disrupting activity. The pseudo rate constant (k') of as-synthesized ZnFe O -Ag/rGO NC was higher by the factor of 14.6 and 5.6 times than the corresponding ZnFe O and ZnFe O /rGO respectively. The synergistic interactions between ZnFe O , Ag and rGO leading to decreased aggregation of the NPs, increased surface area, better absorption in visible region, effective electron-hole generation transfer. However, in the presence of humic acid (HA), the photosensitization effect was predominated by competitive interaction resulting in only 80% removal of EE2 within the same time. Moreover, the composite can easily be magnetically separated for reuse.
Simultaneous photo-inactivation ofE. coliand degradation of EE2 was achieved in the presence of ZnFe2O4-Ag/rGO. H2O2was mainly responsible for bacterial inactivation whereas, OH˙ was found to have more influence in EE2 degradation.
Magnetic separability and photocatalytic enhancement by plasmonic property of Ag–AgCl/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposite makes it practicable in both environmental and economic terms.
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