Synthesis of innovative TiO2-inulin-Fe3O4 nanocomposite for removal of Ni (II), Cr (III), crystal violet and malachite green from aqueous solutions

In this project TiO2-inulin-Fe3O4 nanocomposite for the first time was synthesized which inulin was extracted from Jerusalem artichoke plant tubers by a simple and inexpensive method. Inulin acts as an intermediate between TiO2 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which can improve the dispersion of titanium nanoparticles. It prevents the degradation of iron nanoparticles against the light also long chains having hydroxyl radicals of inulin can increase the removal efficiency. The successful synthesis of nanocomposite was identified by various analyzes Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Vibration Sample Magnetometer (VSM) and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET). In the adsorption process of Ni (II), Cr (III), crystal violet (CV), and malachite green (MG), ionic strength, concentration, and contact time studied also, isotherms and kinetics of adsorption to study the behavior of the system investigated. The effect of composite dose and kinetic of photocatalysis studied also, comparison of contaminants removal by adsorption and photocatalysis was investigated that better removal of contaminants in the photocatalysis process obtained which can be related to the production of hydroxyl radicals in presence of light.