Transition metal decorated Ferrosoferric oxide (Fe3O4): An expeditious catalyst for photodegradation of Carbol Fuchsin in environmental remediation

In this research, we report the removal of Carbol Fuchsin dye by using doped Ferrosoferric oxide nanocatalyst. The nanocatalysts Fe3O4 and doped Fe3O4 was characterized by various methods. The structural properties of the prepared Fe3O4 doped Fe3O4 were investigated by using X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), which confirmed the single-phase Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The surface, texture, morphology of nanoparticles was identified, from SEM. The crystal lattice confirmed from TEM. The magnetic property of Fe3O4 was confirmed by VSM analysis. The elemental composition of prepared pure and doped Ferrosoferric oxide was confirmed by EDS study. The zeta potential was investigated for the stability of iron oxide nanoparticles. XPS spectrum of doped Fe3O4 was analysed to find the surface characteristics and elemental composition of doped Fe3O4 nanocatalyst. Here undoped Fe3O4 and doped Fe3O4 were comparatively investigated for the Carbol Fuchsin dye degradation study. Different parameters like initial catalyst dose, the effect of pH, contact time, dye concentration, effect of dopants, catalyst recycling have been studied to optimize degradation study. The optimum conditions for the removal of the Carbol Fuchsin dye are found to be initial concentration 20 mg/L, photocatalyst dose 8 mg/L, pH 8.0. In kinetics study, Pseudo First order kinetics has been investigated for both pure and doped Ferrosoferric oxide catalyst. Almost 97% of dye degradation has been observed for doped iron oxide.