Sun-light driven enhanced azo dye decontamination from aqueous solution by CoO-CuFe2O4 derived from layered double hydroxide
Ayodeji Olugbenga Ifebajo, Akeem Adeyemi Oladipo, Mustafa Gazi
Abstract
ABSTRACT Sun-light driven CoO–CuFe 2 O 4 photocatalyst was fabricated successfully from a layered double hydroxide via a modified co-precipitation and calcination method at 500°C, for the decontamination of azo dye-laden wastewater. The CoO–CuFe 2 O 4 was characterized and the results demonstrated that it is composed of face-centered cubic CoO and cubic spinel CuFe 2 O 4 , which has a specific surface area and pore volume of 348.5 m 2 g –1 and 0.715 cm 3 g –1 , respectively; and pH point zero charges of 5.8. The photocatalytic activity is enhanced at acidic pH level and achieved ~99.4% decolorization of Eriochrome black T dye (EBT) within 90 min in the presence of 0.05 g of CoO–CuFe 2 O 4 . Notably, • OH and • O 2 - radicals played a role while h + significantly participated during the EBT photodegradation. Reusability experiments confirm that the CoO–CuFe 2 O 4 possesses high stability and exhibits efficient photocatalytic reusability with almost the same efficiency for degrading EBT dye.