Fe3O4@TiO2 preparation and catalytic activity in heterogeneous photocatalytic and ozonation processes

Several experimental variables were systematically evaluated in the preparation of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles. The influence of the preparation parameters on the hydrodynamic diameter and size distribution was examined. The studied experimental parameters include reaction temperature, ultrasonic bath time, stirring speed/time, base concentration/addition rate and stabilizer percentage/stirring time. Depending on experimental conditions, materials with an average size ranging between 11 nm and 35 nm were obtained. The Fe3O4 magnetic nanomaterial was used to prepare the hybrid catalyst Fe3O4@TiO2. The prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, BET specific surface area and dynamic light scattering. Fe3O4@TiO2 was employed in the degradation of the major metabolite of dipyrone, 4-methylaminoantipyrine, by heterogeneous photocatalytic and ozonation processes. The hybrid material exhibited catalytic activity in both processes.