Synthesis and kinetic study of the photocatalytic efficiency of Bi1-xDyxFeO3 nanoparticles in the removal of Ponceau 4R dye

In this study, a method for the removal of Ponceau 4R (P4R, E124) dye from aqueous solution using the chemical interaction of dye molecules with nano- Bi1-xDyxFeO3 is reported. Bi1-xDyxFeO3 (x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04,0.06) nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol-gel method. Structural, morphological, and optical properties of the nanoparticles were X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy at room temperature. The photocatalytic degradation of P4R was optimized under these conditions: The P4R concentration of 20 mg L-1 of P4R, 0.50 mL hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), 0.10 g of the catalyst, and under the influence of an ultraviolet lamp at pH 2. The photocatalytic result indicates that Dy-doped BiFeO3 (BFO) nanoparticles improved photocatalytic activities compared with BFO. Under optimum conditions, the percentages of P4R degradation using BFO for 240 min was 98.92%, using BFO Dy-doped (Dy 2%), (Dy 4%) and (Dy 6%) for 90 min 94.67%, 87.69%, and 79.69%. Also, the photodegradation kinetics of P4R in the presence of Bi1-xDyxFeO3 nanoparticles were investigated using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model by determining the pseudo-first-order rate constant for the photodegradation. The results showed photodegradation rate constants (k) for a period of 90 min in the presence of the Bi1-xDyxFeO3 were 0.01031, 0.02312, 0.01830, and 0.01346 Cm-1 for x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06.

Automated summary

This study introduces a method for the removal of Ponceau 4R (P4R, E124) dye from water using the nano-Bi1-xDyxFeO3 catalyst. The Bi1-xDyxFeO3 nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized. The photocatalytic degradation of P4R was optimized under specific conditions. The results showed that Dy-doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles improved photocatalytic activities and achieved high percentages of P4R degradation.