Yolk-Shell Structured Fe3O4 @ Copper Silicate as Catalyst for Catalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

Yolk-shell structured Fe3O4@copper silicates (FCSs) were prepared and applied for catalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). The samples were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS and N-2 sorption isotherms. FCS prepared with trisodium citrate, named FtCS, presented better catalytic performance than FcCS (FCS prepared with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)) and other catalysts reported recently. Four successive runs of FtCS along with the negligible Cu2+ leaching (6ppm) certified that the composite was stable. The results showed that copper component = Cu(II) in FtCS was the main active phase which promoted H2O2 to produce hydroxyl radicles (HO center dot) resulting in the MB decomposition.