Degradation of methylene blue using a novel magnetic CuNiFe2O4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite as heterojunction photocatalyst

Protecting aquatic ecosystems against dye pollutants has grown to be a top priority for both human health and marine life. In particular, methylene blue (MB), which can harm marine life even at low concentrations, needs to be protected. Using a self-assembly ultrasonic-assisted method, we present here the synthesis of a novel binary CNFO/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalyst for the degradation of MB pollutants. This catalyst contains superparamagnetic CuNiFe2O4 (CNFO) nanoparticles on the surface of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). The crystal structure, functional groups, surface chemical composition, morphologies, and other characteristics of the CNFO/g-C3N4 photocatalyst were studied using a variety of methodologies. The as-prepared CNFO/g-C3N4 photocatalyst stands out for its mesoporous structure and high surface area, which has a value of 108.6 m(2).g(-1). With an efficiency of up to 97.23 % and a 3-h turnaround time under solar light, these characteristics result in exceptional performance for the degradation of methylene blue dye pollutants corresponding to a photodegradation rate constant k value of up to 0.01228 min(-1). The efficiency of this fraction is twice that of pure gC(3)N(4). Additionally, the CNFO/g-C3N4 nanocomposite demonstrated good reusability for four cycles without a reduction in the photocatalyst's effectiveness. Intriguing, this catalyst may be magnetically extracted from the contaminated solution, providing new environmental applications with new insights.