Fabrication of novel magnetic CuS/Fe3O4/GO nanocomposite for organic pollutant degradation under visible light irradiation

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2021-04, Vol.28 (15), p.19222-19233
• Main Authors: Nasseh, Negin, Arghavan, Fatemeh Sadat, Daglioglu, Nebile, Asadi, Anvar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Copper sulfides; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; electron microscopy; Emission analysis; Energy dispersive X ray analysis; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Fabrication; Field emission microscopy; Field emission spectroscopy; Fourier analysis; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Fourier transforms; Graphene; graphene oxide; Infrared spectroscopy; Iron oxides; Irradiation; light; Light irradiation; magnetism; Magnetometers; Methylene blue; Nanocomposites; nanosheets; photocatalysis; Photodegradation; photolysis; Pollutant removal; Pollutants; reflectance spectroscopy; Research Article; Scanning electron microscopy; Sol-gel processes; Spectrum analysis; Sulfides; synergism; Synergistic effect; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; X ray analysis; X ray powder diffraction; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-12066-3

The magnetic nanocomposites composed of copper sulphide, iron oxide, and graphene oxide (CuS/Fe 3 O 4 /GO) were synthesized through a facile sol-gel combined with hydrothermal techniques for photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) as a model organic pollutant. The as-prepared samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), differential reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and results confirmed successful synthesis of magnetic nanocomposite. Presence of Fe 3 O 4 and GO in nanocomposite induced a synergistic effect in CuS performance as CS 88 F 6 G 6 (i.e. 88% CuS, 6% Fe 3 O 4 , and 6% GO). The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of MB reached up to 90.3% after exposure to visible light irradiation for 80 min. The composite nanosheets are photostable, reusable, and magnetically recoverable, revealing potential application in removal of organic pollutants.