Microwave synthesis of magnetically separable ZnFe2O4-reduced graphene oxide for wastewater treatment

Abstract

A magnetically separable ZnFe2O4-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nano-composite was synthesised via a microwave method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images of the nano-composite showed a uniform dispersion of nanoparticles on the rGO sheets. The performance of the nano-composite in wastewater treatment was assessed by observing the decomposition of methylene blue. The nano-composite showed excellent bifunctionality, i.e. adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, for up to five cycles of water treatment when illuminated with light from a halogen bulb. In contrast, water treatment with the nano-composite without illumination and the illuminated rGO, with no decoration of nanoparticles, diminished significantly after the first treatment. The reclamation of the ZnFe2O4-rGO nano-composite from treated water could be easily achieved by applying an external magnetic field.

Visible light induced methylene blue dye degradation photo-catalyzed by WO3/graphene nanocomposites and the mechanism

“…5.The initial concentration of the MB solution was set at 10 mg/L and the dosage of each 10 photocatalyst was set at 50 mg. For comparison, the MB degradation by the WO 3 or WO 3 /G nanocomposites under full wavelength irradiation was also analyzed with the results shown in Fig. S6.…”

“…Amongst the photoactive materials, the visible-light-active materials have received much attention since they are potential candidates for degrading the environmental pollutants by using solar energy, which greatly reduce the energy consumption devoted [7,8]. In recent years, abundant attempts have been focused on the development of graphene incorporated composites with improved visible-light photocatalysis capabilities [9,10].…”

Nanostructured Spinel Ferrites: Synthesis, Functionalization, Nanomagnetism and Environmental Applications

“…Such a synergic effect is attributed to the large surface area of the composites and to the electronic properties of these carbon-based functional materials. The proposed mechanism is outlined below [171]. It comprises the initial formation of the electron-hole pair in the ferrite phase by photon absorption (I), followed by the rapid electron transfer reaction from the ferrite conduction band to the rGO sheets (II).…”

EDTA-assisted fabrication of TiO2 core–shell microspheres with improved photocatalytic performance

“…Thus, removal of organic pollutants from wastewater is particularly significant for water pollution control and remediation. Now, as an efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly technology to decrease organic pollutants in wastewater, photocatalysis is considered as a promising approach for pollution abatement and recovering of wastewater [2][3][4][5]. So far, a number of semiconductors such as TiO 2 [6,7], ZrO 2 [8], Fe 2 O 3 [9], ZnO [10], CdS [11], MgO [12], and Co 3 O 4 [13] have been widely used for the oxidation of organic pollutants in aqueous solution.…”