Design and fabrication of magnetically recoverable SnO2/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite for enhanced visible light-driven wastewater treatment
D. Venkatesh, V. Kanchana, S. Vasanthan, A. Kistan, P. Rajeswaran, K. Arunkumar, P. Siva Karthik
Abstract
This study emphasizes the critical importance of ensuring the availability of clean and secure water resources amid global concerns about water contamination, highlighting the necessity for effective and enduring methods to eliminate hazardous pollutants. The research introduces a sustainable approach to environmental protection through the creation of a high-performance photocatalyst, employing a co-precipitation route to incorporate CoFe 2 O 4 onto SnO 2 for efficient wastewater treatment under solar light irradiation. Comprehensive composition and morphological studies of the SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 composites are conducted using techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman, UV–Vis, PL spectra, and FT-IR spectra. The synergistic behavior of the SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 composite results in efficient separation of electron/hole pairs, reducing the recombination rate and leading to improved photocatalytic performance under solar-light illumination. Notably, the rate constant for Chromium (VI) removal reaches 87 % and the degradation of Rhodamine 6G attains 92 % within 105 mins intervals. The catalyst demonstrates stability and ease of regeneration through a five-cycle recycle study, further supporting its potential for practical application in wastewater treatment.