p-CoFe2O4/n-AgCl-based photocatalyst for efficient removal of organic dyes from wastewater under visible light
Billal Brahimi1, Elhadj Mekatel1, Mounir Mellal2, Mohamed Trari3
1Laboratory of Transfer Phenomena, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering, USTHB, BP 32, Algiers, Algeria
2Laboratory of Valorization and Recycling of the Material for Sustainable Development, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering, USTHB, BP 32, Algiers, Algeria
3Laboratory of Storage and Valorization of Renewable Energies, Faculty of Chemistry, USTHB, BP 32, Algiers, Algeria
https://doi.org/10.5004/ic202423
ABSTRACT
The widespread use of synthetic dyes in textile industries has raised environmental concerns due to their high stability and potential toxicity in water systems. In this context, the heterosystem (p-CoFe2O4/n-AgCl) was synthesized and evaluated for its photocatalytic performance in the degradation of Acid Orange 61 (AO61), a common azo dye in industrial wastewater. A simple precipitation–deposition method was employed the synthesis of composite and enhance the visible-light-driven activity of AgCl. Structural characterization was performed via X-ray diffraction (XRD), and surface morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A direct optical gap of 1.46, 3.20 and 2.22 eV was deduced for the CoFe2O4 (CFO), AgCl, and CFO/AgCl (25%/75%) samples respectively, with CFO acting as a photosensitizer to enhance the photocatalytic performance of AgCl. The photocatalytic degradation was optimized with respect to mass ratio and catalyst dose. Under optimal conditions : CFO/AgCl (25%/75%), 1.25 g/L, pH ~ 6, Co = 50 mg/L, a degradation efficiency of 93% was achieved within 240 min. The improved activity is attributed to efficient charge separation and enhanced electron transfer within the heterojunction.
Keywords: Heterosystem (p-CoFe2O4/n-AgCl); Photodegradation; Wastewater; Acid Orange 61 (AO61); Visible light
