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MnFe2O4/coal fly ash nanocomposite: a novel sunlight-active magnetic photocatalyst for dye degradation

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Abstract

The present study focuses on the use of waste coal fly ash (CFA) for preparing magnetic photocatalyst (MnFe2O4/CFA) and its application of dye degradation from water. The MnFe2O4/CFA photocatalyst was synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method and characterized by various techniques for its structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties. The MnFe2O4/CFA nanocomposite was used for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under sunlight. Detailed studies for various parameters such as pH, catalyst dose, initial dye concentration, oxidant concentration, and time on photocatalytic degradation were analyzed. The degradation efficiency reached ~ 100% under sunlight within 30 min by the MnFe2O4/CFA nanocomposite. The degradation/removal efficiency of MB was found in the order MnFe2O4/CFA (99.9%) > CFA (61%) > MnFe2O4 (56%) under optimum conditions for composite at pH = 3, composite dose 60 mg/L, and oxidant dose 0.8 mM. The MnFe2O4/CFA is a promising visible-light-active photocatalyst and can be reused several times without significant loss in photocatalytic degradation efficiency.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Muhammad Zahid (corresponding author) is thankful to TWAS for the grant (Grant No. 15-410 under TWAS-COMSTECH Joint Research Grant) to partial purchase of chemicals and equipment being used in this study and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, for providing the facilities to conduct this research. The authors would also like to acknowledge the Central Resource Laboratory, University of Peshawar and National Textile University Faisalabad to provide the characterization facilities for the composite materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    F. Mushtaq, M. Zahid & I. A. Bhatti

  2. Department of Chemistry, Govt. College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    A. Mansha

  3. Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

    G. Mustafa

  4. Department of Chemistry, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan

    G. Mustafa

  5. Pakistan Science Foundation, 1-Constitution Avenue G-5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan

    S. Nasir

  6. Department of Physics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    M. Yaseen

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  1. F. Mushtaq
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Correspondence to M. Zahid.

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Mushtaq, F., Zahid, M., Mansha, A. et al. MnFe2O4/coal fly ash nanocomposite: a novel sunlight-active magnetic photocatalyst for dye degradation. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 17, 4233–4248 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02777-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02777-y

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