Sun-light driven enhanced azo dye decontamination from aqueous solution by CoO-CuFe2O4 derived from layered double hydroxide

Abstract

Sun-light driven CoO-CuFe2O4 photocatalyst was fabricated successfully from a layered double hydroxide via a modified co-precipitation and calcination method at 500 degrees C, for the decontamination of azo dye-laden wastewater. The CoO-CuFe(2)O(4)was characterized and the results demonstrated that it is composed of face-centered cubic CoO and cubic spinel CuFe2O4, which has a specific surface area and pore volume of 348.5 m(2) g(-1) and 0.715 cm(3) g(-1), respectively; and pH point zero charges of 5.8. The photocatalytic activity is enhanced at acidic pH level and achieved similar to 99.4% decolorization of Eriochrome black T dye (EBT) within 90 min in the presence of 0.05 g of CoO-CuFe2O4. Notably, (OH)-O-center dot and O-center dot(2)- radicals played a role while h(+) significantly participated during the EBT photodegradation. Reusability experiments confirm that the CoO-CuFe2O4 possesses high stability and exhibits efficient photocatalytic reusability with almost the same efficiency for degrading EBT dye.