Microwave‐assisted catalytic activity of superparamagnetic spinel ferrites

Abstract

BACKGROUND Superparamagnetic spinel ferrites were synthesized through a facile one‐step co‐precipitation technique using carbonate salt as precursor. RESULTS The synthesized ferrite nanoparticles of type MFe2O4 exhibited remarkably high magnetism even under microwave irradiation, which was utilized for the microwave‐assisted degradation of Alizarin Red (AR) dye. The formation of •OH radicals under microwave irradiation was detected by the radical scavenging studies, which suggested that these radicals played an important role in the microwave‐assisted catalytic reaction. CONCLUSION This facile synthetic approach can lead to the design and preparation of microwave‐active magnetic spinels with an excellent ability to remove organic pollutants in wastewater. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.