Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by magnetically recoverable Fe3O4/Ag6Si2O7 under simulated visible light

Methylene blue (MB), a typical industrial dye, causes undesirable water pollution and is a serious concern in aquaculture industries. In this study, Fe3O4/Ag6Si2O7 photocatalyst was prepared to remove MB from water under simulated visible light. The Fe3O4/Ag6Si2O7 composites were fabricated via anchoring Ag6Si2O7 nanopartides on the surface of spherical Fe3O4 by precipitation process. Various parameters of reaction were tested in batch experiments, including mass ratio of Fe3O4, catalyst dosage, initial MB concentration and solution pH. It can be observed that 98% of MB could be degraded under optimum conditions and the Fe3O4/Ag6Si2O7 composite performed commendably from pH 2.0 to 10.0. Reactive species trapping experiments revealed that the superoxide radical (center dot O-2(-)) played a prominent part in the photo-degradation mechanism. Some intermediate products produced during the degradation process were also detected. The magnetic properties and high photocatalytic activity of Fe3O4/Ag6Si2O7 particles make it promising employed for practical application in water treatment. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.