In the present work, the performance of Ag/ZnO/CoFe2O4 magnetic photocatalysts in the photocatalytic degradation of Ibuprofen (IBP) was evaluated. This study considered the use of pure Ag/ZnO (5% Ag) and also use the Ag/ZnO/CoFe2O4 magnetic catalysts containing different amounts (5, 10 and 15% wt) of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4). The catalysts were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoacoustic Spectroscopy. To carried the photocatalytic degradation reaction, different concentrations of the ibuprofen contaminant solution (10, 20 and 30 ppm) and different concentrations of photocatalyst were tested (0.3 gL−1, 0.5 gL−1 and 1.0 gL−1). The reaction parameters studied were: IBP concentration, catalyst concentration, adsorption and photolysis, influence of the matrix, radiation source (solar and artificial) and the effect of organic additive. At the end of the photocatalytic tests, the best operation conditions were defined. Considering the obtained results of degradation efficiency and magnetic separation, the optimal parameters selected to proceed with the other tests of the study were: ibuprofen solution concentration 10 ppm, Ag/ZnO/CoFe2O4(5%) catalyst at a concentration of 0.3 g L−1 and pH 4.5 of the reaction medium. The results indicated the feasibility of magnetic separation of the synthesized catalysts. A long duration test indicated that the catalyst exhibits stability throughout the degradation reaction, as more than 80% of ibuprofen was degraded after 300 minutes. The photocatalytic activity was directly affected by the ferrite load. The higher the nominal load of ferrite, the lower the performance in ibuprofen degrading. It was also observed that the smallest amount of ferrite studied was enough for the catalyst to be recovered and reused. The adsorption and photolysis tests did not show significant results in the IBP degradation. In addition, it was possible to verify that the aqueous matrix, the use of solar radiation and the addition of additive (acid formic) interfered direct in the process. The catalyst reuse tests indicated that it can be recovered and reused at least three times without considerable catalytic activity loss.
The present work explored the adsorptive capacity and catalytic activity of rock powders from basaltic and granitic rocks in the discoloration of synthetic and industrial effluents containing the yellow dye Basic Yellow 96. The rock powders were characterized with scanning electron microscopy associated with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, photoacoustic spectroscopy, N2 physisorption and X-ray diffraction, the latter confirming the abundant presence of silica in the four materials studied. The basaltic powders presented specific surface areas between 7 and 10 times greater than those of granitic materials, which allowed up to 92% removal of the dye in 3 h of test using the basaltic powder. Despite the smaller area, the granitic materials showed considerable photocatalytic activity in 3 h, 94%, the same as that of the basaltic materials in the photocatalysis. Granitic and basaltic photocatalysts proved to be efficient in the discoloration of synthetic and industrial effluents, although TOC analyses indicated that it was not possible to promote the pollutant mineralization in the industrial effluent. Both artificial light and sunlight were effective in the photocatalysis of the dye, although the former was slightly faster.
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